OREGON – An Oregon federal judge temporarily blocked the Trump administration from sending the National Guard into Portland, as the city contends with hundreds of protestors at an Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility.
It is a major blow to Trump, who called Portland a ‘war-ravaged’ city under siege by Antifa terrorists, when he announced last week that federal agents would be deployed there.
US District Judge Karin Immergut, a Trump appointee, made the ruling after the city and the state sued the federal government.
The temporary restraining order expires in 14 days on October 18, Immergut wrote in her order.
The Department of Defence has been ready to federalise 200 members of Oregon’s National Guard for the next 60 days to protect the ICE facility, which has been a site for protests throughout the summer and into the fall.
On Saturday, about 400 people participating in a ‘No National Guard in Portland’ rally marched from Elizabeth Caruthers Park to the ICE facility.
As they marched, a helicopter continually followed them. And once they arrived at the facility, federal agents shot tear gas into the crowd and made six arrests, The Oregonian reported.
It is not yet clear who was arrested or why they were taken into custody.
Two arrests were made during Friday night protests at the facility as well. Thomas Wayne Allen and Cortez Carl Williams, both of Portland, were taken in after engaging in aggressive behavior toward each other.
Both were booked into the Multnomah County Detention Centre on charges of Disorderly Conduct in the Second Degree.
Allen was in possession of a can of chemical spray, which appears to bear spray according to images, and a collapsible metal coil baton, authorities said.
The police added: ‘‘There were individuals who gathered to confront one another and passionately debate their opposing points of view.
“The police presence targeted arrests, and announcements from the Portland Police Bureau Sound Truck were effective in suppressing any physical fights breaking out.’’
This week’s chaos began last Tuesday, when more than 100 rioters stormed the ICE centre, injuring several agents in the process, according to the Department of Homeland Security.
Six people were arrested last Tuesday, which then prompted further protests on Wednesday night.
Wednesday night’s protest was the second day of unrest at the facility after officers were forced to fire pepper balls from the roof in an attempt to dispel crowds, which gathered last Tuesday.
Anti-ICE sentiment has seemingly spread to other cities as well, most notably in Chicago, where law enforcement officers were rammed by 10 vehicles and boxed in on Saturday morning.
According to DHS Spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin, the agents were unable to move their vehicles.
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