ICE Director Describes Nightly 'Antifa' Clashes as Trump Plans 200‑Troop Guard Deployment to Portland
Acting ICE Director Todd Lyons said federal personnel have faced "a consistent battle every night" in Portland with what he called "Antifa," alleging protesters used sticks, bats, shields and even threw their own CS grenades, and federal officers have confronted demonstrators outside an ICE facility. President Trump posted on Truth Social calling for "all necessary troops" and authorized a roughly 200‑member, 60‑day federal (Title 10) deployment of the Oregon National Guard to protect federal property — a move confirmed by the Pentagon that has prompted a federal lawsuit from Oregon officials and followed reports of initial confusion between the White House and the Pentagon.
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🔍 Key Facts
- President Trump directed the federally controlled Oregon National Guard to deploy about 200 troops to Portland for roughly 60 days, saying on social media he ordered troops to “protect” the city and authorizing them to use “Full Force, if necessary.”
- A Department of Defense/State memo and an Oregon Military Department memo report the 200 service members were mobilized under Title 10 for operations in the Portland area; Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell confirmed guardsmen were reporting for duty to support ICE and other U.S. government personnel.
- Acting ICE Director Todd Lyons described on the record that federal personnel have faced nightly clashes in Portland with “Antifa,” saying protesters have used “sticks, bats, shields” and even thrown their own CS grenades at ICE staff; federal officers reportedly clashed with protesters outside a Portland ICE facility.
- There was apparent internal confusion about the deployment: a U.S. official told NPR the Pentagon had not yet issued a deployment order and learned of the president’s request from media, even as the Pentagon later provided on‑the‑record confirmation of mobilization.
- Oregon officials pushed back and moved to sue: Governor Tina Kotek, Attorney General Dan Rayfield and Portland Mayor Keith Wilson were named plaintiffs in a federal lawsuit filed Sept. 28 alleging overreach; local leaders publicly disputed the need for troops and called the president’s description of Portland a false narrative.
- Brig. Gen. Alan R. Gronewold’s memo to mobilized service members outlined command relationships, public posture and social‑media cautions for personnel in Oregon.
- The Portland activation is being reported as part of a broader administration pattern of domestic National Guard/use deployments — including previous large mobilizations to California and D.C. — and similar/state requests or actions (Chicago, Memphis, Louisiana, Missouri) have been announced or discussed.
- Legal and constitutional questions have been raised about domestic troop use, with commentators and courts pointing to Posse Comitatus issues and a recent U.S. district judge ruling (Charles R. Breyer) finding a Los Angeles deployment violated the Posse Comitatus Act as key legal touchpoints.
📍 Contextual Background
- Department of Defense contingency guidance listed priority missions during a shutdown in the following order: operations to secure the U.S. Southern Border; Middle East operations; the U.S. missile defense project Golden Dome for America; depot maintenance; shipbuilding; and critical munitions.
- Congress enacted the Pay Our Military Act in 2013 to ensure military pay and allowances continued during a government shutdown.
📊 Analysis & Commentary (1)
Against a Unitary Executive
"The analysis criticizes recent unilateral presidential uses of force and administrative authority—typified by orders to send troops and federalize Guard units—as symptomatic of a dangerous 'unitary executive' doctrine, urging stronger legal and political checks to protect separation of powers, federalism and civil liberties."
📰 Sources (9)
ICE director reveals dangerous nightly Antifa 'battle' as Trump prepares federal deployment to Portland
New information:
- Acting ICE Director Todd Lyons on air: 'It's been a consistent battle every night with Antifa in Portland.'
- Lyons' on‑the‑record description of tactics: protesters bringing 'sticks, bats, shields' and 'throwing their own CS grenades' at ICE personnel.
- Lyons confirmed planning is underway for the Portland deployment and said ICE is prepared to protect its personnel if local help does not materialize.
From LA to Portland: Tracking Trump’s expansive use of the National Guard
New information:
- President Trump publicly framed broader troop uses, suggesting some 'dangerous' U.S. cities be used as 'training grounds for our military, National Guard.'
- Trump declared on social media that 'The National Guard is now in place' in Oregon and authorized troops to use 'Full Force, if necessary,' language highlighted in the report.
- Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell is quoted confirming Oregon National Guard members are 'reporting for duty, conducting training, and preparing to support U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and other U.S. Government personnel.'
- Article explicitly links the Portland activation to a broader pattern of recent deployments (thousands to California in June and to Washington, D.C. in August), framing it as part of an expansive administration strategy.
National Guard now in place for Oregon amid ‘chaos, death and destruction’: Trump
New information:
- Oregon Military Department memo confirms 200 service members will be mobilized under Title 10 for operations in the Portland area.
- Memo author Brig. Gen. Alan R. Gronewold instructed service members about the command relationship, public posture, and social‑media cautions.
- Trump’s public Truth Social message framed the deployment as intended to end 'Chaos, Death, and Destruction' and said federal law‑enforcement officers were being attacked by 'ANTIFA and the Radical Left Anarchists.'
Where things stand with Trump's National Guard deployments
New information:
- Attorney General Pam Bondi said a federal task force is operational in Memphis (Bondi did not specify whether National Guard troops were included).
- Illinois officials say President Trump is seeking to send about 100 troops to Chicago.
- Oregon National Guard reported it is working to comply with Trump's call for roughly 200 troops in Portland.
- Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry requested up to 1,000 troops to help with crime in cities including New Orleans, Shreveport and Baton Rouge.
- Missouri Gov. Mike Kehoe authorized his state Guard to assist with administrative/logistical duties at ICE processing facilities after DHS requested support.
- The Home Rule (D.C.)/Posse Comitatus legal distinction and a U.S. District Judge Charles R. Breyer ruling that the Los Angeles deployment violates the Posse Comitatus Act are highlighted as key legal touchpoints.
At gathering of military leaders, Trump hints at deployment in U.S. cities
New information:
- PBS frames the president’s remarks at the gathering as a broader vision that could include domestic deployments, providing context for later specific orders by the administration (it describes the hinting/vision rather than announcing new city deployments).
News Wrap: Pentagon confirms plans to send 200 National Guard members to Portland
New information:
- Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell provided an on‑the‑record confirmation and quote about the deployment.
- PBS reports Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker said his administration learned of plans to deploy 100 troops to Illinois to protect ICE personnel and facilities.
3 things to know about Trump's plan to send troops to Portland and Memphis
New information:
- President Trump posted on Truth Social saying he ordered troops to Portland and authorized 'Full Force, if necessary,' and named Secretary of War Pete Hegseth to provide troops.
- A U.S. official told NPR the Pentagon had not yet issued a deployment order and learned of Trump's request from media, indicating confusion between the White House and Pentagon.
- Oregon Public Broadcasting reported the Department of Defense called 200 Oregon National Guard members into federal service for a 60-day deployment via a DoD memo to Governor Tina Kotek.
- Mayor Keith Wilson publicly disputed the need for troops, saying 'the necessary troops needed for the city is zero,' and Portland and Oregon officials moved to file a federal lawsuit alleging overreach.
- NPR reports federal officers had confronted protesters at Portland's ICE facility and that protests continued into the night, and that federal troops are also expected in Memphis this week.
Oregon sues over Trump admin's 'war-ravaged Portland' National Guard troop deployment
New information:
- Oregon filed a federal lawsuit on Sept. 28, 2025 seeking to block the deployment; plaintiffs named include AG Dan Rayfield, Gov. Tina Kotek and Mayor Keith Wilson.
- Secretary Pete Hegseth authorized the federally controlled Oregon National Guard to station 200 troops in Portland for 60 days to 'protect federal property.'
- President Trump posted on Truth Social calling for 'all necessary Troops' to 'protect war‑ravaged Portland'; federal agents began arriving over the weekend and at least one clash occurred outside a Portland ICE facility.
Things to know about federal law enforcement activity in Chicago, Portland, Memphis
New information:
- Confirms President Trump directed deployment of 200 National Guard troops to Portland and quotes his social‑media language framing the city as 'War ravaged'.
- Provides immediate governor quote (Tina Kotek) calling the President’s description a false narrative meant to spur conflict.