US appeals court says Trump can send troops to Portland

Request granted by panel of 3 judges, 2 of them appointed by Trump in his first term

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Federal agents using tear gas at Portland's Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility after a large "No Kings" protest in the city on Oct 18. President Donald Trump on Sept 27 ordered 200 National Guard troops to Portland, continuing his administration's unprecedented use of military personnel in US cities to suppress protests and bolster domestic immigration enforcement.

(PHOTO: REUTERS)

A divided US appeals court ruled on Oct 21 that US President Donald Trump can send National Guard troops into Portland, Oregon, despite objections by the leaders of the city and state, giving the Republican an important legal victory as he dispatches military forces to a growing number of Democratic-led locales.

A three-judge panel of the US Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals granted the US Justice Department's request to put on hold a judge's order that had blocked the deployment while a legal challenge to Mr Trump's action plays out.

The court said that sending in the National Guard was an appropriate response to protesters, who had damaged a federal building, and threatened US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers.

The unsigned majority opinion was joined by Circuit Judge Bridget Bade and Circuit Judge Ryan Nelson, who were both appointed by Mr Trump in his first term. Judge Nelson also wrote a concurring opinion saying courts have no ability to even review the US President's decision to send troops.