Portland City Councilor Candace Avalos has publicly spoken out in response to President Trump's recent allusion to possibly deploying the National Guard in Portland. In a press conference where President Trump hinted at the activation of the National Guard, Avalos quickly addressed concerns, calling out what she perceives as a repeat of past actions. According to an official statement released on the Portland government's website, Avalos said, "Trump is using the same old tired playbook from 2020."
She further criticized the previous employment of federal agents in Portland, asserting that this not only brought harm and eroded trust but it also posed a direct threat to marginalized groups. Avalos is evidently taking a stand to protect her constituents, stating, "The East Portlanders I represent are counting on me and other Oregon officials to protect our communities," as per the City of Portland. In her statement, Avalos also referenced a recent court ruling, emphasizing that a federal judge found Trump's earlier deployment of the National Guard in L.A. to be illegal, questioning the legality of any proposed future deployment.
The latest development comes amid broader criticism of Trump’s immigration policies. Avalos contends that the administration’s approach to deportations and detentions has fueled public disapproval, with Portland residents rejecting what she calls “lies and propaganda.” “Portlanders and Americans are seeing the stories of families ripped apart, immigrants detained in horrific conditions, and ICE violently harassing people who are just trying to live their lives,” Avalos said in remarks published on Portland’s government website.
