Judge Blocks Federal Troop Deployment to Portland

A federal judge has issued an emergency order preventing the deployment of National Guard troops into Portland, deeming the action unlawful and unconstitutional.

US District Judge Karin Immergut granted a temporary restraining order that stops California’s National Guard from being sent to Oregon. The order also prohibits troops from any other states or Washington, D.C., from operating in the area.

Immergut’s ruling states that the move violates federal law (10 U.S.C. §12406) and the Tenth Amendment, which reserves powers to the states. During the hearing, she questioned why the Department of Justice continued efforts to send troops despite her order.

Law enforcement officers detain a protester outside the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) headquarters in south Portland — Officers detain a protester outside ICE headquarters in Portland, Oregon, on Oct. 5, 2025.

In response to the ruling, DOJ representatives sought a stay, but Immergut refused, citing the emergency nature of the situation and a lack of new evidence to justify a delay.

Meanwhile, political figures reacted strongly. California Governor Gavin Newsom publicly celebrated the victory, emphasizing that the order aligns with judicial authority and limits federal actions in Portland.

Federal officers dispersing protesters with gas — Federal officers throw gas canisters to disperse protesters near an ICE facility in Portland on Oct. 5, 2025.

Despite the ruling, the Department of Justice is expected to appeal, arguing that the president has the authority to deploy forces domestically in cases of “civil unrest.”