Trump Deploys National Guard in Oregon as Memphis Sees Federal Arrests in Crime Crackdown

President Donald Trump’s latest push to deploy federal resources in Democratic-led cities is drawing mixed reactions, with Memphis seeing dozens of arrests while Oregon officials move to block National Guard troops from operating in Portland.

On Wednesday, Trump posted on social media that members of Oregon’s National Guard were “now in place” following his activation order last week. However, Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek and Portland leaders filed a federal lawsuit calling the move “unlawful and unwarranted,” arguing that the White House is using outdated footage of past unrest to justify a military presence. Portland Police Chief Bob Day added that the limited demonstrations outside an ICE facility do not reflect the national narrative being promoted.

Meanwhile in Memphis, Attorney General Pam Bondi announced the launch of the “Memphis Safe Task Force,” which includes 219 deputized officers and a new Joint Operations Center. Within 24 hours, officials reported 53 arrests and the seizure of 20 illegal firearms. Military personnel and federal law enforcement were also seen staging near a county jail east of the city.

Trump has framed the Memphis effort as part of a broader strategy modeled after Washington, D.C., with “saturation of besieged neighborhoods” to combat violent crime. Local leaders, however, note that crime numbers have declined in recent months. Memphis Mayor Paul Young said the city is working to ensure federal efforts are collaborative rather than heavy-handed, while Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee emphasized Guard members would not be armed or make arrests unless requested.

The developments highlight growing tensions between federal and local leaders as Trump seeks to expand the use of military and federal law enforcement in cities he has described as plagued by “anarchy.” Critics argue the deployments politicize public safety and risk normalizing military involvement in domestic law enforcement.

Credit: CNN Newsource

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