CA Guard troops on ‘litigation hold’ at Camp Withycombe

HAPPY VALLEY, Ore. (KOIN) — About 200 National Guard troops from California arrived at the Oregon National Guard facility at Camp Withycombe, after President Trump ordered their deployment to Portland over the weekend.

Gov. Tina Kotek said the California troops are in Oregon and will share more information as she gets it.

The troops arrived but have not yet headed to Portland following a federal judge’s ruling blocking, at least for now, Trump’s effort to send the National Guard to deal with the protests outside the ICE facility.

A spokesperson at the US Army Northern Command told KOIN 6 News on Monday they are commanding the mission but said the details are being worked out because they’re on a “litigation hold.”

The spokesperson could not say what that hold means for the troops at Camp Withycombe and at Camp Rilea.

Jerry, who lives near Camp Withycombe in Happy Valley and declined to provide his last name, said he supports the deployment.

“I like the idea of it. I think it needs to be taken care of and stop all the commotion going on down there,” Jerry said. “There’s no need for it.”

Happy Valley is about 15 miles from Portland.

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott posted on X he authorized the deployment of Texas National Guard troops to Oregon, after being asked to do so by the Trump administration.

But there is no word from Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek, the Department of War or US Army Northern Command where those troops are.

The Department of War directed KOIN 6 News back to the Northern Command’s website for more details on what they’re calling a “federal protection mission.”