The state of Oregon and the city of Portland have sued the Trump administration to stop it from deploying National Guard troops to Portland,
NBC News repots.
The suit names President Donald Trump, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and the Defense Department, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and the Department of Homeland Security as defendants. It asks a federal court in Portland to stop the Trump administration from deploying troops and declare the deployment unlawful.
White House spokesperson Abigail Jackson said that Trump's actions were "lawful" and that they would "make Portland safer."
"President Trump is using his lawful authority to direct the National Guard to protect federal assets and personnel in Portland following months of violent riots where officers have been assaulted and doxxed by left-wing rioters," she said.
Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell said in a statement that Trump directed Hegseth to call the Oregon National Guard into federal service for 60 days to protect Immigration and Customs Enforcement and other government personnel in the city.
"The President called forth these 200 Guardsmen to deter rampant lawlessness within Portland and to enable Federal law-enforcement officers to safely conduct their duties," Parnell said.
DHS did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the lawsuit Sunday night.
In the suit, Oregon and Portland claim the federal government does not have grounds to call in the guard and said the city has seen "small" protests near an Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility in recent weeks.
“When the president and I spoke yesterday, I told him in plain language that there is no insurrection or threat to public safety that necessitates military intervention in Portland or any other city in our state," Democratic Gov. Tina Kotek said in a news release Sunday. "Despite this — and all evidence to the contrary — he has chosen to disregard Oregonians’ safety and ability to govern ourselves. This is not necessary. And it is unlawful. And it will make Oregonians less safe."
