Portland, OR – After weeks of large mobilizations located at Portland’s ICE center, a federal judge permanently blocked the deployment of the National Guard to Portland on Nov. 7, and a high-level Defense Department official confirmed to the media that 200 California National Guard police officers will be sent back over the next few days. Trump announced the deployment of the National Guard to guard the Portland ICE compound on Sept. 27, which caused a street battle between protesters and the administration that lasted more than a month, and resulted in decisions in favor of protesters. There has been a steady presence of protesters in front of the ICE facility since June 2025, when raids increased in number. The deployment of the National Guard was announced a week after the city announced a citation to the ICE facility for violating the land use agreement by holding detainees for more than 12 hours, an act urged by local activists, as part of the campaign to revoke the ICE permit and to take down the complex. After the announcement of the national guard deployment, numbers swelled at the ICE center, with large demonstrations led by the Portland Against Deportations (PDXCD) group, an immigrant rights organization that led weekly protests of more than 400 people at the ICE center, during which they closed the driveway and continued to demand the revocation of the permit. The continued demonstrations occurred despite Oregon politicians such as Sen. Jeff Merkley who told Portlanders “don’t take the bait” and stay away from ICE centers or risk crackdown. Organizers with PDXCD rejected his recommendation and faced Trump prepared for battle. “We are not hiding from the Trump administration as it tries to fulfill its xenophobic and racist agenda on the streets of our city through the military,” said organizer Blaire Glennon. During the weeks of demonstrations following the announcement of the deployment, the DHS detained many protesters. The largest number of arrests occurred on 4 October, when the main organisers of the demonstration were arrested during the first 15 minutes of the action, in an evidently premeditated arrest. In court proceedings, it was later revealed that the National Guard was present at the ICE facility on Oct. 4, in full violation of a temporary restraining order imposed against deployment at the courthouse. Organizers rushed to protect the protesters, creating legal defense teams to fight back against the crackdown, while not letting the protest at the ICE center arrest. As demonstrations continued in force at the ICE compound, organizers carried out the battle against the deployment of the National Guard. The trial played out in relation to the demonstrations at the ICE Center, as more media attention was attracted as protesters highlighted abuses by DSN and ICE, and the bravery of the protesters, the courts began to more firmly oppose the deployment, resulting in the final ban. “It is due to the people and only to the people that the deployment of the National Guard was blocked. By putting pressure on the government with demonstrations in which we did not surrender, we showed them that it would be a mistake to send the guard to Portland,” said organizer Emily Brown. Organizers rushed to protect the protesters, creating legal defense teams to fight back against the crackdown, while not letting the protest at the ICE center arrest. As demonstrations continued in force at the ICE compound, organizers carried out the battle against the deployment of the National Guard. The trial played out in relation to the demonstrations at the ICE Center, as more media attention was attracted as protesters highlighted abuses by DSN and ICE, and the bravery of the protesters, the courts began to more firmly oppose the deployment, resulting in the final ban. “It is due to the people and only to the people that the deployment of the National Guard was blocked. By putting pressure on the government with demonstrations in which we did not surrender, we showed them that it would be a mistake to send the guard to Portland,” said organizer Emily Brown. The Trump administration contests the permanent ban, and the trial is anticipated to follow. In the town, the demonstrators continue to pressure the city’s trades; PDXCD plans a protest at City Hall this Wednesday, Nov. 19, to protest an ordinance to create a “No Impact Detention Center” proposed by Portland Councilmembers Angelita Morillo and Mitch Green to fine private owners of detention centers for costs incurred to the city as a result of demonstrations in nearby areas. Organizers say this does not meet the Portlanders’ stated demands and demand the full revocation of the permit and the center be closed. 60 days have passed since the initial citation was provided and so under city law the process of revoking the permit can begin. The demonstrators plan to face each new development with mobilizations in the streets.