(Washington) An American judge on Friday blocked the deployment of the National Guard in Portland (northwest), a new setback for Donald Trump, who sent the army to several Democratic cities claiming to want to restore public order there.
The American president announced at the end of September that he would “provide all the necessary troops” to protect Portland, which he described as “ravaged by war”.
Federal judge Karin Immergut temporarily blocked this decision.
In its final 106-page decision, consulted by AFP, it considers in particular that there exists in Portland no “rebellion or danger of rebellion” likely to justify sending the National Guard to replace the regular police forces.
The decision can be appealed.
Since June, Donald Trump has sent the National Guard to several Democratic cities, including Los Angeles and Washington, each time against the advice of local authorities.
The Republican notably justified the deployment of this army reserve corps by what he presents as an increase in crime.
Believing that the United States is the victim of an “invasion” of “criminals from abroad”, he has made the fight against illegal immigration an absolute priority for his second term.
The deployment of National Guard soldiers is hotly contested in court.
The courts already suspended the deployment of hundreds of soldiers to Chicago in October, as requested by the town hall of the third city in the country and the Democratic governor of Illinois, JB Pritzker.
Urgently requested by Donald Trump to obtain authorization to deploy the National Guard there, the Supreme Court with a conservative majority asked both parties to provide it with additional arguments by November 17.
