By John Q. Hosedrinker 
A federal judge in Oregon issued a temporary restraining order, blocking the Trump administration from deploying the National Guard to Portland, citing the president exceeding constitutional authority. The ruling comes amid the administration’s efforts to crack down on Democratic-led cities. The judge found that the incidents cited by the administration did not warrant the use of the National Guard. Similar efforts have also been attempted in Chicago, where the administration cited protests and unrest to justify the deployment of federal troops.
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Judge temporarily blocks Trump’s National Guard deployment in Portland. It’s pretty clear that the whole situation in Portland, and possibly other cities, is heating up, and it’s all getting tangled up in legal battles. At the heart of it all is a judge’s decision to temporarily halt Donald Trump’s plans to deploy the National Guard. This has serious implications and is a direct challenge to the former President’s authority.
Judge temporarily blocks Trump’s National Guard deployment in Portland. The idea of deploying the National Guard has been floated before, and it seems to be part of a larger strategy. Some people feel that this is just a continuation of an earlier initiative that, in the beginning, was presented as a way to deal with immigration, but ultimately had little effect. Later, it was spun as a way to address the “crime problem” in cities. But many feel this is a misleading assessment.
Judge temporarily blocks Trump’s National Guard deployment in Portland. Those arguing against the deployment feel it’s a distraction, especially because it takes attention away from important issues. The feeling is this strategy is meant to make the media focus on sensational stories while larger problems like inflation, job losses, and other crucial matters are being ignored. Some believe the National Guard’s role would be unclear, potentially leading to a waste of resources. What would they actually *do* once they got there? Some people think they would just be picking up trash, or claim they are fixing things in Portland.
Judge temporarily blocks Trump’s National Guard deployment in Portland. If Trump *did* order the deployment, there are potential consequences. Some believe that those in the military who carry out the orders that are deemed illegal could face serious penalties, including jail time. Those who choose to go along with illegal orders could face the end of their military careers. The potential exists that if the National Guard were to disregard a lawful order, that would become a very serious escalation.
Judge temporarily blocks Trump’s National Guard deployment in Portland. There’s also a feeling that if the National Guard is sent in, that will embarrass the troops. Some believe that this is a complete waste. The question of whether the orders would be enforced is key. And what happens if the troops disobey the judge’s order?
Judge temporarily blocks Trump’s National Guard deployment in Portland. The use of the National Guard is legally problematic, and the judge’s decision reflects this. There’s a federal law that prevents the deployment of soldiers to American cities for the purpose of federal law enforcement. The Supremacy Clause, which is usually interpreted as giving federal law precedence, is not going to protect soldiers from consequences if they follow illegal orders.
Judge temporarily blocks Trump’s National Guard deployment in Portland. The commander in chief of the state National Guard is actually the governor, not the President. The Governor has the authority to refuse the order if they feel it violates the Constitution. This puts them in a unique position. Some people believe there are ways around this though.
Judge temporarily blocks Trump’s National Guard deployment in Portland. The first workaround would be if the constitution grants the President the power to do this, and that is affirmed by the Supreme Court. The second workaround would be if the administration argues it is not “law enforcement” and the Supreme Court rules in their favor.
Judge temporarily blocks Trump’s National Guard deployment in Portland. If the federal government chooses to ignore the law, then the state government could choose to ignore it as well. Public opinion matters, and the public is still likely to think that the executive branch should follow court orders.