In a significant legal decision, a federal judge has blocked former President Donald Trump’s plan to send troops from California to Portland, Oregon. The deployment was intended to assist local law enforcement amid ongoing protests, but the court ruled against the move, citing concerns over jurisdiction and the authority to send state-based troops across state lines without proper approval.
This ruling marks a key moment in the ongoing debates about federal intervention in local protests and the limits of executive power. Supporters of the deployment argued it was necessary to restore order, while opponents criticized it as an overreach that could escalate tensions.
The case highlights the complex balance between state and federal powers in handling civil unrest, and it underscores the role of the judiciary in checking executive actions. Further developments are expected as legal challenges continue
Trump has sought to use National Guard troops in a number of US cities to crack down on crime and support immigration enforcement – including in Washington, DC, and Los Angeles, California.
In September, a federal judge in California ruled Trump’s deployment of the National Guard to Los Angeles was illegal because it violated an act that limits the power of the federal government to use military force for domestic matters.
