PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) – Oregon Governor Tina Kotek voiced sharp criticism of the Trump Administration after President Donald Trump invoked Title 10 to deploy the Oregon National Guard into Portland. Troops are expected to arrive as early as Thursday, according to the Oregon Military Department.
Lack of Communication From Washington
Kotek said she was frustrated by the administration’s handling of the deployment, citing the absence of direct communication.
“This administration is very unpredictable,” she said. “As governor, I shouldn’t learn on social media that this is potentially going to happen, and I certainly shouldn’t get something first of the day on a Sunday morning that this is happening. This unpredictability is tough for everybody, and my heart goes out to Oregonians who are scared right now.”
Also Read
The governor accused the federal government of “literally taking our tax dollars away from us to hurt Oregonians.”
Guard Members Are Oregon Residents
Kotek emphasized that members of the National Guard are themselves Oregonians with families and jobs that will be disrupted by this assignment.
“Those who take an oath and those who are committed to the Oregon National Guard will follow the chain of command, because that is what they are required to do — even if I disagree with that chain of command,” she noted.
Legal Challenge Against Deployment
On Sunday, Kotek joined Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield and Portland Mayor Keith Wilson in announcing a request for a temporary restraining order. The motion, filed Monday in District Court, challenges the federal deployment.
According to AG Rayfield, the Trump Administration targeted Portland in response to protests at the ICE facility in South Portland. However, the motion argues these demonstrations “fall far short of a rebellion” and do not justify military intervention.
Kotek also pointed out that the Portland Police Bureau is already managing the protests in compliance with sanctuary city laws, which prohibit local officers from assisting federal immigration enforcement.
“As I have told the president, this situation is not an insurrection; it does not require military intervention,” Kotek said.
Concerns About Public Fear
The governor warned that the arrival of federal troops will only increase anxiety among residents.
“Oregonians have been concerned,” she explained. “We have entire communities in our state who are fearful of not only the rhetoric coming out of the Trump Administration but the actions of immigration enforcement. That has set a chilling effect from our schools to our businesses about what’s going on.”
Kotek maintained that the deployment would undermine trust between the community and law enforcement while inflaming existing tensions.
A Call for Peaceful Action
Despite her dissatisfaction with Washington’s decision, Kotek urged Oregonians to remain calm and continue to exercise their rights peacefully.
“I urge you to stay calm,” she said. “I urge you to express whatever your concerns are or values peacefully, lawfully. Talk to your lawmakers in Congress. Come out to a demonstration or a rally, like I was at yesterday. That’s OK. That’s who we are as Oregonians.”
The governor pledged to work alongside state and local leaders to challenge the deployment and minimize its impact on communities across Oregon.
