A federal judge has again halted President Trump’s effort to deploy National Guard forces into Portland, issuing a temporary block while she completes a final ruling on the legality of the move, a decision expected by Friday evening.
The ruling carries major implications for federal authority, state rights, homeland security policy, and rising political tensions around immigration enforcement.
U.S. District Judge Karin Immergut, a Trump appointee, said Oregon and the City of Portland are likely to prevail in their lawsuit challenging the deployment. In her written order, the judge emphasized the need for a thorough review of testimony and trial evidence before allowing troops on the streets.
“This Court heard the trial testimony and arguments of counsel and has been in the process of diligently reviewing all the evidence,” Immergut wrote. “The interest of justice requires that this Court complete a thorough review of the exhibits and trial transcripts before issuing a final decision on the merits.”
The president mobilized hundreds of Oregon National Guard members in September, saying the move was needed to protect federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers who he claims have faced threats, personal information leaks, and dangerous confrontations.
He invoked a federal statute allowing him to federalize guard units when there is an invasion, rebellion, or when standard law enforcement cannot maintain order.
Trump insists the legal bar has been met, citing online doxxing of ICE personnel and protests that blocked vehicles. Portland’s opposition and civil rights advocates argue the deployment is unnecessary and risks escalating conflict.
But Immergut found the local unrest far less severe than portrayed by the administration.
In Sunday’s ruling, she noted protests outside the ICE facility were “generally uneventful” with only “occasional” interference to federal personnel.
“Although there were sporadic instances of unlawful behavior, federal law enforcement, along with local law enforcement, were able to manage the situation and arrest and prosecute those responsible for criminal conduct,” the judge wrote.
The ruling highlights a broader national clash over presidential authority. Trump has previously argued that courts cannot review his deployment decisions. That same argument is currently before the Supreme Court in a separate case involving Chicago, with justices expected to weigh in later this month, a pending decision that could reshape emergency powers nationwide.
This is not the administration’s first setback in Portland. Immergut also blocked the deployment in early October, though that temporary ruling was later lifted by an appeals court. In this latest round, government attorneys insisted she lacked authority to issue another block before her final ruling. She rejected that argument.
The judge did allow one key aspect to remain in place: the Guard will stay federalized. Trump remains their commander-in-chief, but without judicial approval, the troops cannot deploy to Portland’s streets.
Legal analysts say the outcome could influence political strategies in other major cities where similar National Guard deployments to Los Angeles, Washington, D.C., and Chicago also face lawsuits. The dispute comes as domestic security, law enforcement funding, ICE controversies, and public safety continue to drive high-value search interest and political advertising around the 2025 election cycle.
A final decision from Immergut by Friday will determine whether the president regains deployment authority, or faces a lasting restriction that may fuel further appeals.
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