Federal Judge Issues Final Block on Trump's Portland Plan
In a significant legal development, a United States district judge has formally prohibited former President Donald Trump from deploying the National Guard to the city of Portland, Oregon. The final order was delivered by Judge Karin Immergut on Friday, 25 October 2025, solidifying a temporary block she had issued earlier in the week.
Court Finds No Evidence of Uncontrolled Protests
Central to the judge's ruling was her assessment of the situation in Portland. Judge Immergut stated she "found no credible evidence" that the protests occurring in the Oregon city had spiralled out of control prior to the Trump administration's decision to federalise the troops earlier in the autumn. This legal challenge was initiated in September when both the city of Portland and the state of Oregon filed a lawsuit to block the controversial deployment.
The scene outside the ICE facility in Portland on the day of the ruling was one of heightened tension, with federal officers seen standing guard, as captured in a photograph by John Rudoff for Reuters.
A Wider Pattern of Legal Confrontation
This case represents the latest chapter in a series of legal battles that have unfolded over recent weeks, not only in Portland but also in other US cities like Chicago. The Trump administration has repeatedly moved to federalise and send the National Guard onto city streets with the stated aim of quelling civil unrest.
The judge's final order firmly prevents this strategy from being enacted in Portland, marking a notable check on presidential power and affirming the role of the judiciary in overseeing such domestic military deployments.
