Washington, D.C. – October 7, 2025 – In a bold escalation of the federal response to ongoing unrest, President Donald Trump has authorized the deployment of National Guard units to Portland, Oregon, and Chicago, Illinois, aimed at safeguarding federal agents amid intensifying protests against Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations. The move comes as demonstrations have turned violent, with reports of assaults on agents and threats from snipers, prompting a swift federal intervention. The deployments were announced just three minutes ago, underscoring the urgency of the situation.
White House officials stated that the National Guard’s role will be limited to protecting federal personnel and property, emphasizing that the action is necessary to restore order in cities where local authorities have been accused of failing to curb the chaos. “We cannot allow anarchists and agitators to threaten the safety of our law enforcement officers,” a senior administration official said, speaking on condition of anonymity.
However, the decision has ignited immediate backlash from Democratic leaders. Illinois Governor JB Pritzker and California Governor Gavin Newsom, alongside mayors from affected cities, have swiftly filed lawsuits challenging the deployments. The legal actions argue that the federal moves infringe on state sovereignty and violate the Posse Comitatus Act, which restricts the use of military forces in domestic law enforcement. “This is an unconstitutional overreach that undermines the principles of federalism,” Governor Pritzker stated in a press release, vowing to fight the order in court.
President Trump has not minced words in response to the opposition, warning that he may invoke the Insurrection Act—a rarely used law allowing the president to deploy military forces domestically—if state and local resistance persists. The Insurrection Act, last notably considered during the 2020 protests, grants broad powers to quell civil disturbances without state consent.
Adding to the federal efforts, Texas Governor Greg Abbott has pledged support by dispatching 400 state troops to bolster ICE operations in key areas. Abbott’s office described the contribution as a show of solidarity with the administration’s immigration enforcement priorities, highlighting Texas’s frontline role in border security.
The protests stem from widespread opposition to recent ICE raids targeting undocumented immigrants, which critics say have disproportionately affected communities of color and led to family separations. In Portland and Chicago, demonstrations have drawn thousands, with some escalating into confrontations involving fireworks, projectiles, and now reports of sniper activity aimed at federal agents.
As legal challenges mount and tensions rise, the situation remains fluid. Civil rights groups have condemned the deployments as an attempt to militarize urban areas, while supporters argue it’s essential for maintaining law and order. The White House has indicated that further deployments could be authorized if similar unrest spreads to other cities.
