Kotek to Trump: ‘Send all National Guard members home’

PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — Even though the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals sided with the Trump Administration over federalizing and deploying Oregon National Guard troops to Portland, their deployment remains stalled because of a separate restraining order that blocks their deployment.

It’s been weeks since Trump first ordered the National Guard to Portland to defend the ICE facility from the small group of protesters. The troops and state officials are both frustrated and in the dark about the mission itself and the timeline.

During a Monday press conference following the decision’s announcement, Gov. Kotek said she has “repeatedly called on the Trump Administration to tell the public exactly what mission he expects National Guard members to do.”

“These citizen soldiers have been pulled away from their families and jobs for weeks to carry some kind of mission in Oregon,” Kotek said. “They have been silent.”

Dozens, possibly hundreds of federal agents are in and around the ICE facility but the National Guard is still nowhere to be seen. Kotek confirmed about 200 Oregon National Guard troops are still at Camp Rilea on the coast with another 200 California Guard members stationed at Camp Withycombe in Happy Valley.

Previously, officials with the Oregon Military Department told KOIN 6 News both groups have completed crowd control and use-of-force training from US Army North, the military command that trains and directs the troops.

KOIN 6 News has requested the training materials but have not yet received them.

“At this point today, both the Oregon National Guard and the California National Guard continue being in limbo,” Kotek said. “We have no additional information from the Trump administration. That’s very troubling. As commander-in-chief of the National Guard for Oregon that’s the situation we have been in.”

Trump invoked Title 10 on September 27, which authorized federal control of the National Guard. State leaders said they received little information on the Guard’s orders or deployment timeline.

“No idea of the mission,” Kotek said. “No idea of the timeline at this point.”

But since the National Guard troops are under federal control, Oregon officials have no authority over deployment. The president of the Department of Defense orders mobilization and the US Army North commands troops.

Kotek calls the deployments “unnecessary” and urges the Trump Administration to reconsider.

“I still urge the Trump Administration to send all the National Guard members home,” she said.