Federal agents clash with Portland protesters — tear gas used minutes after judge blocks National Guard deployment
Video footage shows federal agents in tactical gear marked DHS and U.S. Border Patrol detaining protesters and deploying tear gas in Portland minutes after U.S. District Judge Karin J. Immergut issued a temporary restraining order blocking a Sept. 28 memorandum (signed by Pete Hegseth) that called 200 Oregon National Guard members into federal service for 60 days. The Pentagon said no Oregon National Guard members were on mission in the Portland area, while a White House spokeswoman defended the president’s authority to protect federal assets and said the administration expects the Supreme Court to overturn the order. Judge Immergut, a Trump appointee, wrote that “The President’s determination was simply untethered to the facts.”
📌 Key Facts
- Video footage shows federal agents in tactical gear marked DHS and U.S. Border Patrol detaining protesters and deploying tear gas late Sunday, described as occurring minutes after a judge issued a restraining order blocking National Guard deployment.
- U.S. District Judge Karin J. Immergut issued the temporary restraining order; her opinion included the line, "The President’s determination was simply untethered to the facts."
- Judge Immergut is a Trump nominee confirmed by Senate voice vote in 2019 and previously served as a line prosecutor for Independent Counsel Ken Starr, participating in debriefings and grand‑jury questioning related to Monica Lewinsky.
- The restraining order is tied to a defendants’ September 28, 2025 memorandum (signed by Pete Hegseth) that called 200 Oregon National Guard members into federal service for 60 days.
- The Pentagon told Fox News Digital that while Oregon National Guard members remain under Title 10 (T10) status, "there are no Oregon National Guard members on mission in or around the Portland area."
- White House spokeswoman Abigail Jackson defended the president's authority to protect federal assets and said the administration expects the Supreme Court to overturn the restraining order.
📰 Sources (3)
- Identifies the blocking judge as U.S. District Judge Karin J. Immergut and provides nomination/confirmation details (Trump nominee, Senate voice‑vote confirmation 2019).
- Biographical background: Immmergut served as a line prosecutor for Independent Counsel Ken Starr and participated in debriefings and grand‑jury questioning of Monica Lewinsky.
- Quotes from her opinion: includes the phrase 'The President’s determination was simply untethered to the facts.'
- Connects the TRO to the defendants’ September 28, 2025 memorandum (signed by Pete Hegseth) calling 200 Oregon National Guard members into federal service for 60 days.
- Video footage shows federal agents in tactical gear (marked DHS and U.S. Border Patrol) detaining protesters and deploying tear gas late Sunday, described as occurring minutes after Judge Karin Immergut's restraining order.
- Pentagon told Fox News Digital that while Oregon National Guard members remain under T10 status, 'there are no Oregon National Guard members on mission in or around the Portland area.'
- White House spokeswoman Abigail Jackson issued a statement defending the president's authority to protect federal assets and saying the administration expects the Supreme Court to overturn the restraining order.