WASHINGTON, D.C. - President Donald Trump announced on Saturday that he has authorized the deployment of U.S. troops to Portland, Oregon, and to federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facilities across the country, citing attacks by what he described as "Antifa, and other domestic terrorists." The order, shared via a post on Truth Social, directs Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to provide "all necessary Troops" to protect "War ravaged Portland" and the ICE facilities, adding a significant escalation to the administration's crackdown on left-wing protest groups. The President also explicitly authorized the use of "Full Force, if necessary."
The announcement follows a deadly shooting on an ICE detention facility in Dallas, Texas, on September 24, where a detainee was killed and two others severely injured. Authorities found bullet casings marked 'ANTI-ICE' at the scene, which the Trump administration has used to support its claim of organized, violent opposition to its immigration enforcement policies. This latest move comes just days after the President signed an executive order designating the anti-fascist movement, Antifa, as a domestic terrorist organization, promising a broad investigation into the group's operations and financing.
Trump's focus on Portland is particularly pointed. The famously progressive city was a flashpoint for large-scale protests against police brutality following the death of George Floyd in 2020, during which federal buildings, including the ICE facility, were attacked. Local leaders, however, quickly condemned the new deployment. Oregon Governor Tina Kotek and Portland Mayor Keith Wilson publicly stated that the troops were not needed. Mayor Wilson stressed that the city was not facing an insurrection or a national security threat, saying that "the number of necessary troops is zero."
The move also comes in the wake of the assassination of conservative youth activist Charlie Kirk, an ally of the President, which the administration has blamed on "radical left maniacs" and is using as grounds to intensify its efforts against political violence from the left. Attorney General Pam Bondi echoed the sentiment, announcing the deployment of Justice Department agents to ICE facilities nationwide that are "under siege." Critics, including Oregon Senator Ron Wyden, warned that the federal deployment risks provoking conflict, similar to the clashes seen in 2020. The unexpected military deployment marks the latest controversial use of federal forces for domestic purposes under the Trump administration.
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