Why Trump is sending troops to Portland and why the city says it doesn’t need them

US President Donald Trump

US President Donald Trump has announced plans to deploy federal troops to Portland, Oregon, citing the need to protect U.S. immigration facilities. Oregon’s governor, Tina Kotek, and more than 100 political and business leaders have rejected the move, saying the president is “perpetuating outdated narratives” about the city. They argue Portland has seen falling crime rates and economic growth since 2020, when violent clashes with federal forces marked Trump’s first term, the Wall Street Journal reported.

Local leaders emphasize stability

In a strongly worded letter, the Portland Metro Chamber and state leaders urged Trump not to intervene, pointing to the city’s recovery in jobs, tourism and public safety. They stressed that protests today are smaller and more contained than those seen in 2020 after the George Floyd killing. “There is no insurrection. There is no threat to national security,” Governor Kotek said, insisting that Portland can manage its own policing needs.

ICE facility at the centre of tensions

The immediate flashpoint is an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility outside downtown Portland, where small but regular protests have taken place. While some demonstrations have seen arrests and confrontations with police, residents say the situation is nowhere near severe enough to justify troop deployment. Critics argue that the White House is inflating threats to justify a political show of force.

Residents voice frustration

Many Portlanders describe the protests as disruptive but not dangerous. A bus driver living nearby said tear gas used by police often unsettles both residents and pets but stressed the unrest doesn’t warrant federal troops. Others see Trump’s move as a distraction from economic troubles and political scandals. Still, activists argue the protests reflect Portland’s identity as a sanctuary city committed to protecting migrants and resisting what they call federal overreach.

The antifa factor

Trump’s order also highlights his long-running focus on antifa, a loose network of left-wing anti-fascist activists with a strong presence in Portland. The White House recently labelled antifa a domestic terror group, but locals note it is not an organization in the traditional sense. Some protesters openly embrace the “antifascist” label, saying it represents a basic moral stance rather than a formal movement.

What comes next

The US Defense Department has approved sending 200 Oregon National Guard troops for 60 days, though the state is suing to block the deployment. The move raises fears of a repeat of 2020, when federal intervention escalated rather than calmed protests. As rallies continue outside the ICE facility, Portland finds itself once again at the centre of America’s polarized debate over free speech, immigration policy, and the use of federal power.