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More Than One Way to Crack an Egg: Trump Deploys California National Guard...to Oregon

October 06, 2025 ,

RedState 

Lawyers have a notoriously bad (and often well-earned) reputation. But one thing you have to hand them is this: If there's a loophole, they'll find it. 

Such appears to be the case with those advising the Trump administration as it navigates the bevy of lawsuits filed in an effort to #ResistWeMuch its efforts to enforce immigration law and restore law and order to a number of blue cities and states. 

As Jennifer Oliver O'Connell reported, on Saturday, an Oregon district court judge issued a temporary restraining order blocking the administration's deployment of 200 National Guard troops to Portland, Oregon. 

In a 31-page opinion and order (which the administration has already appealed), Judge Karin Immergut (who was appointed by Trump in 2019) concluded that President Trump's determination that federal law enforcement officers were unable to execute federal law (thus necessitating the deployment) was "untethered to the facts," and further “'interfere[d] with the constitutional balance of power between the federal and state governments' by federalizing state National Guardsmen for federal service when no statutory or constitutional authority permitted their federalization." Immergut thus enjoined "Defendants’ September 28, 2025, Memorandum ordering the federalization and deployment of Oregon National Guard service members to Portland." 

Here's the catch: That order applies to Oregon National Guard members. So, it seems, the president has seen fit to deploy California National Guard members instead.

PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — California Gov. Gavin Newsom announced Sunday that President Trump has deployed 300 California National Guard members to Portland. Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek also confirmed the deployment, stating 101 California troops already arrived in Oregon by plane Saturday night, with more on the way.

...

Newsom confirmed in a post on X that President Trump had deployed the California National Guard personnel, who are currently on their way to Oregon.

Additionally, Newsom pledged Sunday to fight the move in court.

“His deployment of the California National Guard to Oregon isn’t about crime. It’s about power,” Newsom said in a statement. “He is using our military as political pawns to build up his own ego. It’s appalling. It’s un-American. And it must stop.”

Oregon Governor Tina Kotek and Portland Mayor Keith Wilson have also decried the move. 

Looks like it's going to be a busy Sunday evening/Monday morning in the federal courts in California and Oregon. 

Update - 9:45 PM Eastern:

As anticipated, Oregon has now amended its complaint and sought a second TRO "to prohibit the relocation or deployment of any National Guard under Defendants’ command (i.e., Title 10 status) within the State of Oregon."

The court set a hearing on the second TRO for 7:00 PM (Pacific) Sunday night. Stay tuned!




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