Appeals Court Allows Trump to Deploy National Guard in Portland
In a controversial decision, a U.S. federal appeals court issued a ruling on Monday, October 20, 2025, allowing President Donald Trump to deploy National Guard troops in the city of Portland, Oregon.
This ruling came after the court overturned a previous decision by a federal judge who had blocked the deployment of these troops.
* Details of the Ruling
• Court: The federal court in the ninth circuit ruled by a majority of 2-1 in favor of allowing the National Guard to be sent to Portland.
The court considered Trump's decision to deploy the troops to be within his legal authority.
• Background: The court's decision came at a sensitive time, after Trump ordered the deployment of about 200 National Guard members to Portland, where the city was experiencing widespread protests against immigration policies, particularly protests against federal actions related to illegal immigration.
* Objections and Responses
• Local Officials: The decision was met with rejection from Oregon state authorities, especially from the governor and the mayor of Portland, who believed that the situation could be handled by local law enforcement without federal intervention.
• Trump: For his part, President Trump defended his decision to deploy the National Guard, stating that the protests that erupted in the city were experiencing increasing violence, necessitating federal intervention to protect federal facilities.
* Legal Context:
These developments come after other courts had seen legal disputes regarding the deployment of troops in U.S. cities.
Earlier, a judge in Chicago rejected a similar request from Trump, considering that the presence of federal troops could lead to an escalation of civil unrest.
However, in Portland, the arguments continued before the appeals court, which found that federal authorities had demonstrated actual threats against federal facilities.
* Implications of the Decision
• National Guard: About 200 National Guard members are expected to be deployed to protect federal facilities in Portland, in a move seen as part of Trump's efforts to combat illegal immigration.
• Protests: With protests continuing in the city, the court's decision may increase tensions in Portland, amid calls to expand protests against federal presence in other U.S. cities like Chicago and Washington.
* Future of the Decision:
As the legal debate continues, Oregon state authorities are expected to continue their attempts to challenge this ruling in higher courts, in an effort to contest the court's decision that allowed the deployment of the National Guard.
* Background of the Protests:
The Portland protests had begun weeks ago following an escalation of friction between demonstrators and immigration law enforcement, with large protests centered around facilities belonging to the Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
The federal government described these protests as a threat to national security, prompting Trump to decide to deploy National Guard troops.
In the end, this decision remains a contentious point in American politics, as it indicates an ongoing struggle between federal and local authorities over how to handle civil protests and protect national security.
