Hundreds of Portland citizens gathered outside a US Immigration and Customs Enforcement building on Sunday to voice their opposition to President Donald Trump's order deploying National Guard troops to the city. This move has sparked widespread controversy and public outcry, especially following Trump's announcement on social media over the weekend.

President Trump posted on Saturday, directing Secretary of War Pete Hegseth to deploy troops to "protect war-ravaged Portland & any of our ICE Facilities under siege from attack by Antifa, & other domestic terrorists." In response, Oregon Governor Tina Kotek expressed concern, stating, "We have been provided no information on the reason or purpose of any military mission. There is no national security threat in Portland."

The President's decision was backed by a Presidential Memoranda issued on September 25, targeting "domestic terrorism and organized political violence." According to the memo, such movements allegedly aim to discredit "foundational American principles" and incite violent acts. It cited a significant increase in attacks on ICE officers in recent months as a justification for the federal action.

Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield has challenged the legality of the deployment, filing a lawsuit and arguing that the President lacks authority under federal law to federalize the National Guard in the current circumstances. More than a dozen Oregon mayors have also united, issuing a joint letter rejecting any attempts to militarize the Portland area and vowing to protect civil rights and community trust.

The backdrop to these events includes the recent murder of conservative commentator Charlie Kirk, after which Trump vowed to retaliate against what he described as the "radical left." Shortly thereafter, the federal government labeled the anti-fascist movement Antifa as a domestic terrorist organization, a designation that legally does not exist in the US.

As tensions continue to rise, the community's response has been one of solidarity against the federal intervention, emphasizing peace and legal action over conflict.