WASHINGTON — About 200 Oregon Army National Guard soldiers have been activated and placed under federal command to assist in protecting federal property and personnel in the Portland area, U.S. Northern Command announced Friday.
The deployment was directed by the Secretary of War and is being carried out under Title 10 authority, meaning the soldiers are operating under federal rather than state control. The units involved include the 3rd Battalion, 116th Cavalry Squadron and the 821st Troop Command, according to the command.
In a statement, U.S. Northern Command said the forces are being assigned to “carry out those military protective activities that the Secretary of War determines are reasonably necessary to ensure the protection and safety of federal personnel and property.”
Army North, the land component of U.S. Northern Command, has also deployed a command-and-control element to oversee the mission on the ground.
Before assuming their duties, the Guard soldiers will complete refresher training in civil disturbance operations, crowd control, de-escalation tactics, and the standing rules for the use of force. Officials said the training is designed to ensure the soldiers are “fully trained and mission-ready.”
The announcement did not specify how long the units would remain in Portland. U.S. Northern Command said further information would be released as the mission develops.
The arrival of federal forces in Portland recalls previous deployments to the city. In 2020, federal agents were sent to guard the U.S. courthouse and other facilities during months of racial justice protests, sparking widespread demonstrations and clashes with law enforcement.
[…] A federal judge on Saturday temporarily blocked President Donald Trump’s order deploying 200 Oregon National Guard troops to Portland, ruling that the move likely exceeded his constitutional and statutory […]