Judge Blocks Trump's National Guard Deployment in Portland

Mon Nov 03 2025 14:28:27 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

In a pivotal ruling, a federal judge has halted President Trump's administration from deploying National Guard troops in Portland, citing no credible evidence of out-of-control protests. This decision comes amid ongoing legal tussles over military presence in U.S. cities.

U.S. District Judge Karin Immergut ruled that National Guard troops cannot be deployed in Portland until further assessment, stating that no significant protests threatened federal personnel or property. The ruling follows a legal challenge from city and state officials against the federal administration's decision to militarize urban areas amidst protests. With evidence suggesting protests were largely peaceful, the case raises questions about governmental overreach in managing civil unrest.

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — A federal judge in Oregon on Sunday barred President Donald Trump’s administration from deploying the National Guard to Portland until at least Friday, stating she 'found no credible evidence' that protests in the city grew out of control prior to the federalized troops being ordered.

The ongoing legal dispute includes arguments from city and state officials who sought to block the deployment allegedly meant to protect federal personnel and property.

U.S. District Court Judge Karin Immergut's ruling follows a three-day trial where the legality of the military's involvement in civil unrest was debated. Immergut emphasized that most reported violence appeared to involve skirmishes between protesters and counter-protesters, with little evidence of significant damage at federal facilities.

This ruling is part of a larger legal battle as various Democratic cities, including Chicago, seek to prevent military actions that seem unjustified. Amidst this complex legal backdrop, Immergut's earlier findings starkly contrast Trump's portrayal of Portland as a city 'ravaged by war.'

In the courtroom, testimonies from local officials suggested that police were effectively managing protests without the need for military involvement, a view that contradicts federal claims about ongoing violence levels.