Troops deployment in US cities could stimulate further agitations

US President Donald Trump’s announcement that he will send troops to Portland, agents clashing with protesters near an immigration enforcement building in suburban Chicago, and the expected arrival of the National Guard in Memphis are the most recent examples of current and possible federal law enforcement crackdowns in US cities, reports CNN.

Trump said on social media Saturday he was directing the Department of Defense to “provide all necessary Troops to protect War ravaged Portland.” Trump said the decision was necessary to protect US Immigration and Customs Enforcement facilities. His announcement was met with pushback from Oregon’s Democratic governor. Confirmation on Sunday of a National Guard deployment was met with a lawsuit from the state of Oregon and Portland alleging unlawful overreach by the administration.

In Chicago, federal authorities have fired pepper balls and tear gas at protesters at an ICE building in Broadview, west of Chicago. The confrontations come amid a surge of immigration enforcement that began early this month. Meanwhile, Republican Tennessee Governor Bill Lee has said federal authorities including immigration and drug enforcement agents are expected to arrive in Memphis starting this upcoming week. The moves follow Trump’s crime crackdown in the District of Columbia and actions in Los Angeles in response to immigration protests that turned violent with the arrival of troops. Here’s a rundown of potential and current federal law enforcement activity in Portland, Chicago and Memphis.

Oregon Democratic Gov. Tina Kotek responded to Trump’s comments that he was “authorizing Full Force, if necessary” to handle “domestic terrorists” by saying he is abusing his authority by ordering troops into a city she said is doing “just fine” on its own. Other government, police and business leaders said soldiers are not needed and Trump is presenting a false picture of the city. “There is no insurrection. There is no threat to national security,” Kotek told reporters.

The governor said she “tried to understand his reasoning” during their conversation and his response was just, “Let’s keep talking.”  Oregon Governor Tina Kotek said there was "no national security threat in Portland" and described communities as "safe and calm" while Portland Mayor Keith Wilson argued there was "no need to send troops," adding that the president "will not find lawlessness or violence here unless he plans to perpetrate it."

Oregon officials also announced legal action on Sunday as State Attorney General Dan Rayfield filed a lawsuit arguing that the deployment of National Guard troops was "provocative and arbitrary" and threatened to undermine public safety. The complaint called the move unlawful and warned it could inflame tensions rather than calm them.