Portland and Oregon defiant on Donald Trump's National Guard deployment, including maybe troops formerly used in Iraq and Afghanistan

The city of Portland and the state of Oregon are defiant amid ongoing threats by US President Donald Trump to deploy federal troops, as recent court orders give them hope that the situation will de-escalate.

In late September, Trump described the people of Portland as "out of control" and promised to "stop that very soon."

Trump also likened the city to a war zone, saying, "You go out to Portland, people die out there. Many people have died over the years in Portland [...] I don't know how anybody lives there. It's amazing, but it's anarchy out there. That's what they want. They want anarchy."

In response to Trump's announcement of troop deployment, which he is implementing similarly in Chicago, the city of Portland, and the state of Oregon have filed a lawsuit against Trump. California Governor Gavin Newsom has filed a suit against Trump over his order to send California National Guard members to Oregon.

The administration raised even more eyebrows when it was reported, based on leaked Signal texts, that "Department of War" Secretary Pete Hegseth had considered deploying the 82nd Airborne, an elite US Army unit historically sent into combat, such as Iraq, Vietnam and Afghanistan.

The city's mayor, the state's governor and the attorney general have responded to these moves with outrage, pointing to a relatively low crime rate and calm atmosphere, not warranting federal troop deployment.

"Today, in my meeting with Secretary Noem, I reiterated again that there is no insurrection in Oregon," Governor Tina Kotek wrote in a public statement, following a tense exchange at the airport with Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, who visited on Tuesday.

"Twice now, a federal judge has affirmed that there is no legal basis for military deployment in Portland. I was clear that I have confidence in local law enforcement to meet the moment," the governor continued.

Noem had visited an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility in Portland, where she posed for pictures and videos praying with officers.

Ever since the president announced plans to deploy the military to Portland, the city has seen daily protests – typically several dozen senior citizens dressed as chickens (mocking Trump for cowardice) in front of a local ICE facility. Other regular protests include people dressed as furries (animals, such as dinosaurs) and groups gathered to play music and dance.

Though these protests have been mainly peaceful, Trump has described them as violent and has threatened to cut federal funding to the city. Earlier this week, several were met with tear gas and arrest while marching to an ICE facility to protest Noem's visit.

On Thursday, judges in the Ninth Circuit Court heard arguments on whether to grant a complete hold on the deployment of federal troops to Portland, following a temporary hold on Wednesday. At present, the Oregon National Guard can remain under federal control, but can't deploy to Portland.

It is unclear why Trump has chosen Portland as his target. It is one of many cities across the US active in opposing ICE. Furthermore, it was also one of the most active cities in the Black Lives Matter movement five years ago.

"The Trump administration is fabricating conflict. These are the early stages of the civil war against the blue states," David Frank, a professor of rhetoric and political communication at the University of Oregon, told The New Arab. "I'd listen carefully to the language. They're saying: the enemy within."