A federal appeals court ruled Monday that President Donald Trump may deploy National Guard troops to Portland, Oregon, to support law enforcement amid ongoing unrest and attacks on officers.

The decision allows Trump to move forward with the federalization of 200 Oregon National Guard members while a broader legal challenge continues.

In a 2–1 decision, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals lifted an Oct. 4 injunction that had blocked the deployment.

The court found that Trump “likely” acted within his constitutional authority when he directed the Guard to assist in restoring order around the federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility in Portland.

The legal dispute began when Oregon’s Democratic Attorney General Dan Rayfield and the city of Portland filed a joint suit against the Trump administration, arguing that the president exaggerated the severity of recent protests and unlawfully intervened in state affairs.

Demonstrations outside the Portland ICE office in recent months have led to multiple arrests and reports of violence against law enforcement officers.

Federal law, the appeals court noted, “authorizes the federalization of the National Guard when ‘the President is unable with the regular forces to execute the laws of the United States.’”

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The judges concluded that evidence presented by the Department of Justice supported the president’s decision to deploy additional personnel.

In a statement posted on X, Rayfield criticized the ruling, writing, “We are on a dangerous path in America. A panel of Ninth Circuit judges has chosen to not hold the president accountable.”

We are on a dangerous path in America. A panel of Ninth Circuit judges has chosen to not hold the president accountable: they just granted the federal government’s motion to stay our first TRO, which prevented the president from deploying Oregon National Guard troops in Oregon. pic.twitter.com/jF3lFkJL99

— Attorney General Dan Rayfield (@AGDanRayfield) October 20, 2025

The appeals court cited multiple incidents of harassment and threats targeting federal employees stationed in Portland.

“Several ICE officers at the Portland [Enforcement Removal Operations] office have had their names, photographs, and home addresses posted publicly in several municipal locations and residential neighborhoods, along with threatening messages,” the ruling stated.

Judges also noted that local and state officials had been “unable or unwilling” to provide adequate protection for federal personnel and facilities.

“The continued deployment of [Federal Protective Services] officers to Portland is unsustainable,” the court added, emphasizing that escalating violence and a lack of coordination with local authorities necessitated federal action.

According to the FBI, there have been 195 arrests and citations near the ICE facility since June, including cases involving property destruction and assaults on federal agents.

Here are today’s updated stats for arrests and citations at the ICE facility in Portland. pic.twitter.com/snyDqCOJzq

— FBI Portland (@FBIPortland) October 16, 2025

Attorney General Pam Bondi praised the court’s decision Monday, calling it a significant victory for law enforcement and for the administration’s authority to ensure public safety.

“Today, the 9th Circuit found that [President Trump] has the right to deploy the National Guard to Portland, Oregon, where local leaders have failed to keep their citizens safe,” Bondi wrote on X.

“This follows hard work by [Department of Justice] attorneys and helps re-affirm a simple truth: President Trump is the Commander-in-Chief. We will continue fighting and winning in court to defend President Trump’s agenda,” Bondi added.

Today, the 9th Circuit found that @POTUS has the right to deploy the National Guard to Portland, Oregon, where local leaders have failed to keep their citizens safe.

This follows hard work by @thejusticedept attorneys and helps re-affirm a simple truth: President Trump is the…

— Attorney General Pamela Bondi (@AGPamBondi) October 20, 2025

The Ninth Circuit’s decision marks the latest development in a series of legal battles over federal intervention in cities facing prolonged unrest.

The panel’s ruling allows National Guard troops to begin coordinated operations in Portland while the court considers further arguments in the ongoing case.