Trump expands federal crackdown, sends troops to Portland over immigration detention protests
Donald Trump has ordered the deployment of troops to Portland, Oregon, authorizing the use of "full force" if needed, to suppress protests targeting immigration detention centres.
The US president claimed the move would help protect "any of our ICE Facilities under siege from attack by Antifa, and other domestic terrorists," characterizing the city as "War ravaged" in a Truth Social post.
The announcement marks a further expansion of troop deployments in US cities, amid a wider crackdown by the Trump administration on illegal immigration.
The latest move has drawn pushback from Democratic lawmakers, who said there was no need for federal troops to be deployed to Portland.
"There is no national security threat in Portland. Our communities are safe and calm," said Oregon Governor Tina Kotek.
Kotek told a news conference on Saturday that "any deployment would be an abuse of power," and said she was working with Oregon’s Attorney General Dan Rayfield "to see if any response is necessary."
"We will be prepared to respond if we have to," she added.
Trump’s post does not specify whether he intends to activate national guard or regular US military - nor what is meant by the use of "full force."
"We stand ready to mobilize US military personnel in support of DHS [Department of Homeland Security] operations in Portland at the president’s direction," chief Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell told the BBC.
"The Department will provide information and updates as they become available."
The Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility in Portland has been targeted by protesters since early June, sometimes leading to violent clashes.
As of 8 September, the US Attorney’s Office had brought federal charges against 26 people for crimes including arson, assaulting a police officer, and resisting arrest.
The DHS said on Friday that demonstrators had "repeatedly attacked and laid siege to an ICE processing center" in Portland.
The department stated that several individuals had been arrested and charged with federal offenses in a post on social media.
"Rose City Antifa, a recently designated domestic terrorist organization, illegally doxxed ICE officers," it wrote.
"They published their home address online and on public flyers. Individuals associated with Antifa also sent death threats to DHS personnel."
Technology & Business Editor
Read more similar news:
Comments:
comments powered by Disqus
