Oregon — Governor Tina Kotek on Monday issued a sharply worded statement after U.S. Army Northern Command verbally directed the Oregon National Guard to demobilize 100 Guard members previously activated under Title 10 authority and extend deployment for the remaining 100 still assigned to Portland.
The action comes ten days after a federal judge permanently blocked National Guard deployment to Portland, a ruling that halted the Trump administration’s attempt to use Guard forces in the city following unrest at the ICE facility. All 200 California National Guard members involved in the same operation were scheduled to return home yesterday.
“President Trump’s disregard for the rule of law has real human consequences,” Kotek said. “Members of the Oregon National Guard, who are our friends and neighbors, have been away from their families and jobs for 50 days on an unnecessary deployment. With the holidays approaching, every single member deserves to go home.”
The Governor’s office said it is seeking clarification from federal officials, noting that the directive contradicts both the court order and the demobilization schedule issued after the ruling. The continued deployment of half of Oregon’s contingent raises questions about compliance with the judge’s decision and the legal basis for extending Title 10 status.
The dispute follows over a month of heightened federal-state tensions surrounding the Portland ICE facility, where ongoing unrest has drawn national attention. Earlier reporting detailed the divide between the messaging of Oregon elected officials portraying Portland as entirely peaceful and the reality of the months of violent activity at the ICE facility.
Newsweek reported Tuesday that the administration has filed an emergency appeal seeking to overturn the judge’s ruling and restore federal authority to deploy Guard units in Oregon. the administration argued the protest activity, centered around a federal immigration-enforcement facility in Portland, constituted sustained threats warranting federal intervention
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