Judge Karin Immergut issued a temporary restraining order blocking President Trump’s deployment of 200 National Guard members to Portland. The judge ruled that Trump exceeded his authority and violated the Tenth Amendment. The order, which expires October 18, was granted after Immergut found the administration’s claims of significant violence and unrest were unsupported by evidence. A hearing will be held to determine if the temporary order should be extended.
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The President of the United States has declared a potential military intervention in Portland based on what he saw on Fox News and advice from his aides, despite lacking verified information about the current situation. Reports indicate that Trump was referencing outdated footage and claims, potentially leading to a misinformed decision to send in the National Guard. This alarming action stems from the President’s reliance on media coverage and possibly the influence of advisors like Stephen Miller, who are using the President’s detachment from reality to enact their agendas. This scenario, where the President is seemingly manipulated into actions based on misinformation, raises serious questions about the stability and future of the country.
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Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry, a Republican, has requested the deployment of National Guard troops to New Orleans and other cities through 2026, citing the need to combat crime. This request aligns with Trump’s previous actions, which have included sending troops to other cities like Washington D.C. and Memphis, despite crime statistics showing significant decreases in some areas. While the governor pointed to elevated violent crime rates and law enforcement shortages, data indicates that New Orleans is experiencing its fewest murders since 1970, with decreases in carjackings, vehicle burglaries, and shootings. This request has drawn criticism from Democratic leaders in other states and comes amidst concerns about the potential misuse of military force.
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Oregon and the city of Portland have filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration to halt the deployment of National Guard troops, citing a lack of legal justification. The suit names several key figures and departments within the administration and seeks to declare the deployment unlawful, arguing it violates the 10th Amendment by overstepping state police powers. Despite claims of escalating violence and threats to federal assets by the administration, state officials like Governor Tina Kotek deny the existence of conditions necessitating military intervention, pointing to crime statistics that are comparable to the previous year, while also acknowledging an 8% increase in simple assaults. The lawsuit follows a similar ruling against the administration’s actions in Los Angeles, where a judge found that the Posse Comitatus Act was violated.
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In response to President Trump’s plan to deploy National Guard troops to Portland, Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield filed a federal lawsuit on Sunday seeking to block the move. The lawsuit, filed in the name of the State of Oregon and City of Portland, argues that the deployment infringes on state and local sovereignty and violates federal law. The state and city maintain that the use of troops is unwarranted, especially given the limited size of recent protests, and they believe that the troops will escalate tensions and disrupt local law enforcement’s ability to manage the situation. The state will be seeking a temporary restraining order to prevent troop arrival.
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President Donald Trump signed an order deploying the National Guard to Memphis, Tennessee, aiming to combat crime in the city, mirroring his approach in Washington, D.C. The deployment, which will involve a special task force with various federal agencies, was announced with Republican Governor Bill Lee present, although details on the timing and specifics of the enforcement efforts were not immediately available. Despite recent reports of crime decreases in Memphis, the White House cited the city’s higher-than-average crime rate as justification for the intervention. While Memphis’s Democratic mayor expressed opposition to the deployment, Trump indicated a willingness to send troops to other cities, including Chicago, regardless of local support.
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The National Guard inadvertently shared internal documents with The Washington Post revealing significant troop disillusionment with their deployments in Washington D.C. The documents, meant for internal analysis, highlighted negative public reactions, including veterans expressing “shame and alarm” at the deployments. This unforced error exemplifies the military’s carelessness, mirroring the overall sloppiness of the Trump administration. The released documents show that many troops are unhappy with the current situation.
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Representative Boebert argued that objections to the National Guard’s temporary presence in the city are hypocritical. She pointed out that there was no outcry from Washington D.C. residents or opposing political figures when a substantial National Guard presence was deployed around the Capitol, restricting First Amendment rights. Boebert framed this prior deployment as a similar scenario to the current one, implying that the current objections are inconsistent with past reactions. However, this comparison is a misrepresentation of the events of January 6, 2021, and the reasons behind the National Guard’s involvement.
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Governor JB Pritzker expressed caution regarding President Trump’s shifting stance on deploying National Guard troops to Chicago, noting silence from sources connected to the administration. Trump had previously indicated he would announce a deployment to a different city, a move that would be a political victory for Pritzker. While the threat of military deployment appears to have diminished for now, Pritzker anticipates an increase in federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement activities. This announcement was made the same day Trump announced the “Midway Blitz,” a measure that has not yet significantly increased arrests.
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The deployment of over 2,200 National Guard members to Washington D.C. was initiated by President Trump, who claimed it would combat crime despite declining local crime rates. However, the National Guard’s role has proven largely ineffective, with soldiers primarily tasked with observing and reporting crimes to local police, rather than actively participating in law enforcement. Rules of engagement restrict the National Guard’s ability to make arrests or use weapons, while also potentially violating the Posse Comitatus Act. This deployment, costing a million dollars per day, is now being used for purposes like maintaining the city’s parks.
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John Q. Hosedrinker