Washington: Donald Trump has threatened to invoke the Insurrection Act, a 1807 federal law that allows the US president to deploy military forces or federalise the National Guard anywhere in the country if courts or state officials block his plans. This comes amid mounting protests at Portland in Oregon and legal challenges to his anti-immigration measures.

Trump’s announcement follows a federal judge temporarily blocking his efforts to send the National Guard to Portland on Monday.

Democratic Illinois Governor JB Pritzker called the planned deployment of troops to Chicago an “invasion”.

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The US president has already deployed troops in Washington, DC, and California, citing “rising” crime rates and cities “harbouring” undocumented immigrants.

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