Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen is leading a coalition of 20 states in backing President Donald Trump’s deployment of federal and National Guard forces to Portland, Oregon, in response to violent protests and threats against federal officers.
The coalition filed an amicus brief Wednesday in the case State of Oregon and the City of Portland v. Trump before the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, asking the court to reverse a lower court’s ruling that blocked the President’s order sending federal personnel to the city.
In the brief, the attorneys general argue that Portland’s protests have escalated into violence, with rioters threatening Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers, breaking into federal facilities, and creating unsafe conditions for nearby residents.
“I commend President Trump for stepping in to protect his federal officers in Portland, while local officials stand idly by and allow lawlessness in their state and city,” Knudsen said. “It is not a peaceful protest when the safety of law enforcement officers is threatened by arson, assault, and anarchy. The district court’s ruling sets a dangerous precedent that politics outweigh the law, excusing these horrific acts.”
The brief emphasizes that the President’s actions fall within his federal authority and are necessary to prevent violence from spreading to other states. By deploying National Guard resources, federal officers can continue performing their duties, including the identification, apprehension, and removal of individuals violating immigration law.
Joining Montana in the coalition are the attorneys general of Iowa, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Missouri, Mississippi, Nebraska, Ohio, South Dakota, Texas, and West Virginia.
Knudsen and the coalition argue that local authorities in Portland have failed to hold rioters accountable, leaving federal forces to operate in what the brief describes as a “warzone” environment. The states assert that allowing the violence to continue unchecked undermines the public interest, law enforcement authority, and federal statutory duties.
The Ninth Circuit is expected to consider the appeal in the coming weeks, a ruling that could determine the legality of federal deployments in cities facing violent unrest.
