Trump Orders Troops Into Portland — What Does ‘Full Force’ Really Mean?

A woman stands off with a law enforcement officer wearing a Houston Field Office Special Response Team patch outside the U.S. Immigrations and Customs (ICE) building during a protest Saturday, June 14 2025 in Portland, ORE (Jenny Kane/AP)

Washington, D.C. – 27 September 2025 - In a dramatic escalation of his administration's crackdown on immigration-related unrest, President Donald Trump announced on Saturday the deployment of U.S. troops to Portland, Oregon, authorizing the use of "full force" if necessary to safeguard federal immigration facilities. The move, detailed in a post on Truth Social, comes amid ongoing protests targeting an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) processing center in the city, which the administration has described as under siege by "domestic terrorists."

"I am directing Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth to provide all necessary Troops to protect war-ravaged Portland," Trump wrote, adding that he was "authorizing Full Force, if necessary" to counter threats from groups like Antifa and other protesters. The order directs the Pentagon to support Department of Homeland Security (DHS) operations, marking the latest in a series of federal interventions in Democratic-led cities. Similar deployments have already occurred in Los Angeles and Washington, D.C., with plans for Memphis next on the list.

Protests against ICE facilities in Portland have intensified since early June, evolving from demonstrations over immigration policies into clashes that the DHS characterizes as coordinated attacks. According to federal reports, demonstrators—some linked to the recently designated domestic terrorist group Rose City Antifa—have laid siege to the ICE center, committing acts including arson, assaulting officers, and doxing federal personnel by publishing their home addresses and issuing death threats. At least 26 individuals face federal charges related to these incidents.

The Trump administration's broader immigration enforcement push has included signing an executive order labeling Antifa as a domestic terrorist organization, a step aimed at justifying heightened security measures. DHS emphasized on X (formerly Twitter) that "Rose City Antifa illegally doxed ICE officers" and threatened DHS staff, framing the Portland situation as a national security imperative.

This is not the first time federal forces have been mobilized in Portland. In 2020, amid nationwide protests following the murder of George Floyd, Trump authorized unmarked federal agents to intervene, a decision that drew widespread criticism for inflaming tensions and leading to lawsuits over civil rights violations.

The announcement has sparked immediate backlash from Oregon's Democratic leadership. Governor Tina Kotek, in a sharply worded statement, declared, "There is no national security threat in Portland. Our communities are safe and calm," labeling the deployment an "abuse of power." She added during a news conference that the state is coordinating with Attorney General Dan Rayfield to explore legal challenges and is "prepared to respond if we have to."

U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR) echoed these sentiments, urging residents to "not fall into Trump's attempt to incite violence" and drawing parallels to the 2020 federal incursion. Representative Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR) criticized ICE's tactics, noting that while the agency claims to target criminals, data from the Cato Institute shows 65% of detainees have no criminal convictions and 93% no violent ones. She cited cases like a father detained outside his child's preschool and a firefighter arrested during duty.

Legal experts have raised alarms over the order's compliance with U.S. law. The Posse Comitatus Act restricts the use of federal military forces for domestic policing, a barrier that a recent federal judge's ruling in California deemed violated by a similar National Guard deployment to Los Angeles. While the administration argues this falls under protecting federal property, critics contend it skirts constitutional protections.

Moreover, the designation of Antifa as a terrorist group lacks a formal legal framework in the U.S., potentially infringing on First Amendment rights to free speech and assembly. "There is no legal mechanism to formally designate a group as a domestic terrorist organization," one expert noted, predicting swift court challenges.

As troops prepare to arrive—though exact numbers and timelines remain undisclosed—the deployment underscores deepening national divides over immigration, protest rights, and the role of the military in civilian affairs. Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler has yet to issue a formal response, but city officials are bracing for potential unrest. The White House has not elaborated further, but Trump's post signals no retreat from his hardline stance.