Protestors gather outside Portland ICE building after National Guard deployment
Protestors gather outside Portland ICE building after National Guard deployment
Hundreds of demonstrators gathered outside the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement building in Portland, Oregon, Sunday to protest the Trump administration's deployment of National Guard troops.
A MARTÍNEZ, HOST:
Local leaders in Portland, Oregon, are suing President Trump to stop him from deploying the state's National Guard there. Portland is the latest city Trump has targeted for military action. As justification, his administration referenced protests outside a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility. Here's Oregon Public Broadcasting's Conrad Wilson.
CONRAD WILSON, BYLINE: The Trump administration called 200 members of the Oregon National Guard into federal service for a 60-day deployment. Hours later, the Oregon Department of Justice, the City of Portland and Oregon Governor Tina Kotek announced a lawsuit, arguing the administration had overreached and acted unlawfully.
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TINA KOTEK: Putting our own military on our streets is an abuse of power and a disservice to our communities and our service members.
C WILSON: As recently as last week, President Trump called out Portland. His administration cited protests outside the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement building.
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PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP: Portland is - I don't know how anybody lives there. It's amazing, but it's anarchy out there. And that's what...
C WILSON: Some Oregon Republicans, including U.S. Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer, welcomed Trump's decision. Over the weekend, the former Oregon congresswoman called the city a, quote, "crime-ridden war zone." Many other state and local officials have disputed Trump's framing, saying the president is relying on an outdated view of the city and may even be referencing videos from 2020, when the city saw monthslong protests outside its federal courthouse. Portland Mayor Keith Wilson expressed dismay and disappointment over the Trump administration's decision.
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KEITH WILSON: We do not deny that Portland has hard and important work to do, and we've been doing it. To bring this narrative to Portland, to say that we are anything but a city on the rise, is counter to what truth is.
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UNIDENTIFIED PROTESTER: We have no choice. We have no fear.
UNIDENTIFIED PROTESTERS: (Chanting) We have no choice. We have no fear.
UNIDENTIFIED PROTESTER: ICE is not welcome here.
UNIDENTIFIED PROTESTERS: (Chanting) ICE is not welcome here.
C WILSON: Over the weekend, news of the president sending troops to the city brought larger crowds outside the Portland ICE building. Kathryn Holland says she's struck by the disconnect between what's happening in the city and the national rhetoric.
KATHRYN HOLLAND: I wanted to see what was really happening, and...
UNIDENTIFIED PERSON: And see? See?
HOLLAND: What I perceive was happening is there's just people protesting like they should be. No violence. And that's exactly what I've seen since I've been here.
C WILSON: Oregon officials say they'll file a restraining order, asking a federal judge to block the Trump administration's deployment.
For NPR News, I'm Conrad Wilson in Portland.
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