National Guard Trains in Portland Amid Federal Deployment Plans

Approximately 200 to 250 National Guard troops in Portland, Oregon, have begun training to manage civil disturbances, focusing on protecting federal properties and personnel. The training encompasses legal briefings and guidelines on the use of force in domestic situations. Deployment to Portland's streets is anticipated as early as next week.

"Members of the Oregon National Guard are reporting for duty, conducting training, and preparing to support U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and other U.S. Government personnel who are performing federal functions, including the enforcement of federal law, and to protect federal property in Oregon," stated Chief Pentagon Spokesman Sean Parnell.

This initiative aligns with President Donald Trump's recent directive to utilize U.S. cities as "training grounds" for military operations, citing concerns over an "invasion from within." The White House has issued an order to "crush radical left terrorism" in Portland. Legal experts have expressed apprehension regarding the deployment of military forces against U.S. citizens.

In Oregon, the President appears to be invoking Title 10, a law permitting the use of active-duty troops to safeguard federal buildings and personnel. However, the state's governor has deemed the deployment unwarranted, and the Oregon attorney general has initiated legal action to prevent it.

President Trump announced, "the National Guard is now in place, and has been dedicated to restoring LAW AND ORDER, and ending the Chaos, Death, and Destruction!"

Additionally, over 2,200 troops have been deployed to Washington, D.C., engaging in activities such as patrolling, trash collection, fence painting, and landscaping. Plans are also underway to deploy troops to Memphis, Tennessee, as part of an anti-crime initiative, following an agreement between President Trump and Governor Bill Lee to establish a federally funded task force. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Attorney General Pam Bondi have met with local authorities in Memphis to discuss the deployment.

The timeline for the deployment of Guard personnel in Memphis remains uncertain. Notably, 160 members of the Tennessee National Guard recently returned from active duty in Washington, D.C., and could be utilized for law enforcement duties under state control—a measure rarely employed by governors except in extraordinary circumstances.

All Guard troops deployed nationwide are among the 2 million active-duty personnel currently working without pay due to a government shutdown.