Blue Press Journal

Tag: National Guard in Portland

  • GOP Senators Express Unease Over Trump’s National Guard Deployment

    Blue Press Journal – A growing number of Republican senators are voicing concerns over President Trump’s decision to deploy National Guard troops from other states to Portland, Oregon, and Chicago, despite opposition from the Democratic governors of those states. The move has escalated tensions between federal and state authorities, with many lawmakers warning of a dangerous precedent.

    The conflict reached a boiling point over the weekend when Trump announced plans to send National Guard soldiers to Oregon and Illinois, defying the objections of Governors Tina Kotek and JB Pritzker. The decision was all the more contentious given a federal judge’s ruling on Saturday that the administration could not federalize Oregon’s National Guard to support Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations in Portland.

    Senator Thom Tillis (R-NC) expressed his worries about the potential consequences of Trump’s actions, saying, “I worry about someday a Democrat president sending troops or National Guard from New York, California, Oregon, Washington state to North Carolina. I think it’s bad precedent.” He added that the move contradicts conservative views on states’ rights, stating, “If you look at this particular issue, I don’t see how you can argue that this comports with any sort of conservative view of states’ rights.”

    Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) also voiced her concerns, stating that she is “worried about the precedent of sending National Guard members from one state to another despite the objections of those states’ governors.” She emphasized that the use of the National Guard to respond to natural disasters, when requested by a governor, is a common and acceptable practice. However, she warned that Trump’s actions are crossing a dangerous line, saying, “I am concerned, I am very apprehensive about the use of our military for policing and, more, the politicization that we’re seeing within the military.”

    The growing unease among Republican senators reflects concern about the erosion of states’ rights and potential power abuses. As the situation unfolds, the resolution and its implications for federal-state relations remain uncertain. Trump’s decision to deploy National Guard troops without state governors’ consent has ignited a debate about executive power limits and the need to preserve states’ rights.

  • Federal Judge Blocks Trump Administration from Deploying National Guard in Portland

    Blue Press Journal – In a significant blow to the Trump administration, a federal judge in Oregon has temporarily blocked the deployment of the National Guard in Portland. The ruling, issued by U.S. District Judge Karin Immergut on Saturday, comes in response to a lawsuit brought by the state and city of Portland.

    Immergut’s order argues that the relatively small protests in the city do not justify the use of federalized forces, and that allowing the deployment could harm Oregon’s state sovereignty. The judge emphasized that the country has a “longstanding and foundational tradition of resistance to government overreach, especially in the form of military intrusion into civil affairs.”

    The protests in question have been centered around the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement building in Portland, with typically only a couple dozen people in attendance. The Portland Police Bureau has stated that it does not participate in immigration enforcement and only intervenes in the protests if there is vandalism or criminal activity.

    Immergut’s ruling criticizes the Trump administration’s decision to deploy the National Guard, stating that it was “untethered to the facts.” The judge’s order is a significant rebuke to the administration’s efforts to crack down on protests and assert federal authority.

    The deployment of the National Guard was announced on September 28, and was met with widespread criticism from local officials and residents. A peaceful march earlier that day drew thousands of people to downtown Portland, with no arrests reported. In contrast, the Portland Police Bureau arrested two people on assault charges during a smaller protest later that evening.

    A report by the Department of Homeland Security’s inspector general found that many of the federal officers deployed to Portland lacked the necessary training and equipment for the mission. This raises serious questions about the administration’s preparedness and competence in handling such situations.

    Immergut’s ruling is a victory for the people of Portland and a testament to the importance of checks on executive power. As the judge so eloquently put it, “this is a nation of Constitutional law, not martial law.” The Trump administration would do well to heed this warning and respect the rights and sovereignty of the states and their citizens.