Just because a few dozen people held a small protest outside the Portland ICE office, President Trump ordered 200 National Guard troops into the city to “protect” ICE facilities and agents, claiming it was to stop so-called domestic terrorists.
Yet the governor and mayor immediately pushed back: there is no insurrection here, and no need for military intervention. Police data shows homicides in Portland dropped by half in the first half of this year compared to last.
The real problems we face aren’t “riots” or immigration, but the crushing cost of living and the uncertainty of the future. A one-bedroom apartment often costs more than $1,500, and many people work two or three jobs yet still can’t make rent.
Meanwhile, overdose deaths keep rising while budgets for public services are being cut. The government insists it is “restoring safety,” but safety isn’t soldiers in the streets — it’s having steady income, affordable housing, and access to healthcare.
Can troops fix any of that? Or is this just political theater? Ordinary people don’t need armored vehicles. We need fair policies that actually support our lives.
