A U.S. federal judge has blocked former President Donald Trump’s attempt to deploy National Guard troops to Portland, ruling that the move violated both federal law and the U.S. Constitution.
In a late-night order issued on Sunday, U.S. District Judge Karin Immergut granted an emergency temporary restraining order (TRO) that immediately halted plans to send California’s National Guard into Oregon. The ruling also bars the use of troops from other states or from Washington, D.C., for similar operations within the state.
Judge Immergut, presiding in Oregon’s federal district court, declared that the administration’s actions “appear to contravene 10 U.S.C. §12406 and the Tenth Amendment,” which limit federal authority over state-controlled National Guard units.
The decision, first reported by AllRise News journalist Adam Klasfeld, represents a sharp judicial rebuke of the Trump administration’s use of military force in response to domestic protests — a point of intense controversy during Trump’s presidency.
During courtroom exchanges, Immergut pressed Justice Department attorney Eric Hamilton on why federal officials had continued to pursue troop mobilization despite prior court restrictions.
“How could bringing in federalized National Guard from California not be in direct contravention of the TRO that I issued yesterday?” she asked. “You’re an officer of the court. Aren’t defendants circumventing my order?”
Hamilton denied wrongdoing, arguing the government retained authority to ensure public safety, but Immergut rejected that defense, stating, “You have to have a colorable claim that Oregon conditions warrant deploying the National Guard — you don’t.”
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The challenge originated after reports surfaced that federal authorities planned to mobilize out-of-state National Guard units to control protests in Portland. Oregon officials condemned the move as unconstitutional interference.
Scott Kennedy, an Oregon state official, described the administration’s maneuvers as “a game of rhetorical Whac-A-Mole,” referencing speculation that Trump was also considering dispatching Texas National Guard troops to Chicago.
Government attorneys requested both a stay of the TRO and an administrative delay, but Immergut denied both motions.
“I’m handling this on an emergency basis with limited briefing,” she ruled. “No new information has been provided about any new issues in Portland.”
The ruling underscores long-running tensions between federal and state authorities over domestic troop deployments — a theme that repeatedly surfaced during Trump’s tenure amid widespread protests and political unrest.