PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Five years after protests roiled Portland, Oregon, the city known for its history of civil disobedience is again at the center of a political maelstrom as it braces for the arrival of federal troops being deployed by President Donald Trump.
Months of demonstrations outside Portland’s immigration detention facility have escalated after conservative influencer Nick Sortor was arrested late Thursday on a disorderly conduct charge by Portland Police.
On Friday, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem announced that the agency would send additional federal agents and the Justice Department initiated a civil rights investigation into the nature of Sortor’s arrest, and whether Portland Police are engaging in viewpoint discrimination.
Meanwhile, a federal judge reviewed arguments on whether to temporarily block Trump’s order to call up 200 Oregon National Guard members to secure the ICE facility and other federal properties.
The increase in federal law enforcement in Portland, the state’s largest city with a population of 636,000, follows similar interventions in cities like Chicago, Baltimore, and Memphis. Trump is also known to have deployed the National Guard to Los Angeles earlier in his term amidst rising tensions across various cities.
A conservative influencer arrested in Portland
Sorter, 27, known for his appearances on Fox News and having a substantial online following, was apprehended along with two others outside the ICE building. The specifics surrounding the arrests remain unclear, as neither of the involved parties opted to file a police report initially. However, Portland police intervened several hours after observing continued disturbances.
All three individuals were charged with second-degree disorderly conduct, with Sortor being released shortly thereafter. In a social media post, Sortor denounced the Portland Police as corrupt and claimed external influences were behind his arrest.
A history of Portland protests led to this moment
Portland had witnessed extensive protests in 2020 following the Black Lives Matter movement, leading to drastic governmental actions that saw federal law enforcement deployed to protect federal properties amid escalating violence. The federal response at that time included the use of rubber bullets and tear gas against protestors, raising concerns over excessive force.
While tensions peaked notably in 2020, the present environment differs notably, with only minor protests occurring outside the Portland ICE facility, far removed from the chaos of prior demonstrations that drew thousands. Recent reports indicate a decrease in violent crime in Portland, contradicting the narrative of an unmanageable crisis in the city.
Oregon seeks to block National Guard deployment by Trump
In response to the federal troop deployment, Oregon's Democratic Governor Tina Kotek has pursued legal avenues to block the National Guard's intervention, classifying it as unnecessary given the current stability in the city. A federal judge continues to deliberate on this matter while the National Guard prepares for potential deployment.
The arrest of Sortor appears to signal an increase in federal oversight within Portland, reflecting a broader strategy by the Trump administration to curb civil unrest in various urban locations as tensions continue to simmer.
