Federal agents began arriving in “war ravaged” Portland, Ore., over the weekend after President Donald Trump ordered military deployment to the city, with at least one clash already erupting outside an ICE facility.
An Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer was seen Friday shoving a protester to the ground, according to video footage captured by KATU-TV.
Another demonstrator was detained as agents confronted crowds outside the South Portland site.
In an early-morning Truth Social post Saturday, Trump said he authorized “full force” to protect what he called “War ravaged Portland” and federal buildings “under siege by ANTIFA, and other domestic terrorists.”
Mayor Keith Wilson, speaking at a late-night press conference Friday, said, “We now have a sudden influx of federal agents in our city.
“We did not ask for them to come. They are here without precedent or purpose,” Wilson said.
Residents reacted sharply to the deployment.
David Schmidt, who lives near the ICE building, told KATU, “Every night, there’s tons of protesters basically being vagrants on the street. … They are making noise constantly, even when nobody from ICE is outside.”
Other locals warned that the federal presence could escalate unrest.
“I just remember watching night after night … in 2020, and I’m just worried that we’re going to see things blow up like they did in 2020,” said Ocean Hosojasso of Portland.
The White House did not provide details on the number of troops or their assignments.
Pentagon officials did not immediately respond to requests for information, according to the AP. A Politico report said the order came as a surprise to many inside the Pentagon.
Trump has recently stepped up his criticism of Portland, saying being there was “like living in hell.”
Protesters outside the ICE site Friday said they want to challenge that narrative.
“I know that our city gets this loud and unfair reputation … but you come here, and it’s peaceful,” Hosojasso said.
Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) urged demonstrators to avoid direct clashes.
“Our responsibility is to, yes, express our views. Yes, protest,” he said.
“But best done at a distance from these federal troops … because their goal is to create an engagement, an engagement that will lead to conflict.”
Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek blasted Trump’s decision Saturday.
“There is no insurrection. There is no threat to national security, and there is no need for military troops in our major city,” Kotek said.
She stressed the Oregon National Guard was prepared but not needed.
Wilson reiterated that “the number of necessary troops is zero in Portland and any other American city.”
Rep. Suzanne Bonamici (D-Ore.) called the president’s move a “gross abuse of power.”
Business leaders also spoke out. Vanessa Sturgeon of the Portland Metro Chamber said, “Portland is a city on the rise.
“We are working to tackle our biggest challenges together … and it does not need federal troops,” she said.
Protests at the ICE facility have persisted for months, largely peaceful, though federal officials have accused demonstrators of threatening officers.
Earlier this month, Portland said it would cite the building for land-use violations after reports it had held detainees overnight.
The federal deployment comes as Trump signals similar moves in other Democratic-led cities, including a planned National Guard mission in Memphis, Tenn.
Read the full article here
