PORTLAND, Ore. — A panel of judges at the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals has ruled that the Trump administration can deploy Oregon National Guard troops to Portland.

It's the latest development in an escalating legal battle between the federal government and local leadership, centered on protests at the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility in Portland's South Waterfront district. 

RELATED: Federal judge extends restraining order blocking National Guard deployments in Portland by another 2 weeks

The administration argued that the troops are needed to help protect the building, where for several months, a small group of demonstrators has gathered outside, leading to occasional clashes with federal agents guarding the building — but local and state officials have said the administration is grossly exaggerating the scale of the incidents.

RELATED: Social media plays central role in political showdown involving Portland ICE building, National Guard

The decision comes weeks after a hearing Thursday, Oct. 9, where the three-judge panel heard arguments from Oregon and U.S. Department of Justice attorneys. Each side had 20 minutes to make their case, not including time for judges' questions.

One of the judges, Judge Susan P. Graber, dissented from the decision.

Weeks ago, U.S. District Court Judge Karen Immergut issued a temporary restraining order blocking the use of the Oregon National Guard in Portland while the larger case is decided.

Hours later, the Trump administration attempted to skirt the judge's ruling by sending roughly 200 members of the California National Guard to Oregon instead. They made it as far as Camp Withycombe in Happy Valley.

The Trump administration also looked to deploy members of the Texas National Guard to Oregon, as well as Chicago. Immergut then issued a second, broader order blocking the deployment of any state's National Guard to Oregon.

The Trump administration quickly appealed Immergut's initial TRO up to the Ninth Circuit.

On Oct. 15, Immergut extended her initial order by an additional 14 days, just days before it was set to expire on the 18th.

During the appellate court hearing, U.S. DOJ Attorney Eric McArthur argued to a three-judge panel composed of two Trump appointees and a Clinton appointee that the court should dissolve the second TRO as well as the first if the administration's appeal was granted.

It is unclear what will happen now regarding Immergut's second TRO.

U.S. Northern Command said that it's aware of the 9th circuit ruling. 

"However, the Title 10 National Guard soldiers in Portland are not conducting any operational activities at this time," U.S. Northern command said in a statement. "When we have an operational update, we will make it on our website."

Trump previously said he'd be open to invoking the Insurrection Act, which could lead to military troops being deployed to U.S. cities.

INTERACTIVE: See where Trump has sent or has talked about sending federalized National Guard troops

About the judges

The three judges hearing the motion were Judge Susan P. Graber, Judge Ryan D. Nelson and Judge Bridget S. Bade. Judge Graber was appointed by President Bill Clinton in 1997. Judges Nelson and Bade were both appointed by Trump during his first term, in 2018 and 2019, respectively.

PORTLAND, Ore. — The U.S. Supreme Court will take up a case that could redefine how federal gun laws apply to people who use marijuana — even in states like Oregon, where state law allows for recreational use.

At the center of the case is a Texas man, Ali Hemani, who was charged under a federal law that bars anyone who uses illegal drugs from owning a gun. The Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals threw out his conviction, saying the law violated his Second Amendment rights because he wasn’t under the influence when he possessed the firearm.

The Justice Department appealed, asking the nation’s highest court to uphold the restriction.

It’s the same federal law that led to charges against Hunter Biden, who was found guilty last year of possessing a gun while addicted to cocaine — a conviction his father, former President Joe Biden, later pardoned.

Laura Appleman, a law professor at Willamette University who specializes in criminal and constitutional law, said the case could have major implications for states like Oregon that have legalized marijuana.

“I think this will be a very interesting case because many states, obviously Oregon has very liberal laws on the use of marijuana, but yet it is still (federally) illegal — marijuana is still a Schedule I narcotic, the same as cocaine and fentanyl and heroin,” Appleman said.

Appleman said that even though marijuana is legal under state law, Oregon’s own gun statutes still prohibit anyone using an illegal substance under federal law from owning a firearm. That means the tension between state and federal law remains.

“What this does though is raise the question of what does it mean if you live in a state like Oregon where it is fully legal by Oregon laws to use marijuana. This is opening yourself up for risk,” she said.

Aaron Pelley, a Seattle-based attorney who specializes in cannabis law, said the conflict between federal gun rules and state marijuana laws has long created confusion for legal users and left many potentially quietly breaking the law.

“The question doesn’t ask when, it doesn’t ask if you tried it in 10th grade or you used to smoke marijuana and you haven’t in five years," Pelley said referring to the firearm application. "It just asks if you’ve ever been an unlawful user of marijuana and that really broadness is what makes this so right for attack."

He noted that over half of Oregonians have tried marijuana, while roughly a third own guns.

“I have a suspicion that the 58% of people that have tried cannabis have overlap with that 33% that own guns and that they’re probably lying on that application, because they don’t want to lose their gun rights forever,” Pelley said.

If the Supreme Court agrees with the Justice Department, nothing changes; marijuana users will still be prohibited from owning guns under federal law. But if the justices side with the lower court, Appleman said it could dramatically reshape gun ownership rules nationwide.

“If this federal restriction on handgun use (for) using marijuana or anything else stays in place, then a lot of Americans will be at risk,” she said.

The Supreme Court is expected to hear arguments early next year, with a ruling likely by summer.

OREGON, USA — A second wave of "No Kings" protests against the Trump administration is planned for Saturday across Oregon and southwest Washington, with organizers listing more than 30 separate rallies and demonstrations throughout the region.

The protests are part of a nationwide day of action that includes more than 2,500 marches and rallies, according to the No Kings website. The movement drew an estimated 5 million participants across the country during its first major protest day in June.

The largest Portland-area gathering is scheduled for noon to 4 p.m. at Tom McCall Waterfront Park at the Battleship Memorial, organized by Portland Indivisible and the 50501 Movement, according to the No Kings website.

The "No Kings" theme is coordinated by the 50501 Movement, described on its website as a national movement of Americans who stand for democracy and oppose what they characterize as authoritarian actions by the Trump administration. The name stands for 50 states, 50 protests, one movement.

"America has no kings, and the power belongs to the people," the group's website states.

RELATED: Thousands turn out for 'No Kings' rallies across Oregon, Washington

The American Civil Liberties Union, Planned Parenthood, the American Postal Workers Union and Free Press Action are among the groups listed as partners for the protests, according to the No Kings website.

Saturday's events are scheduled across the Portland metro area and throughout Oregon, from the coast to the Willamette Valley. According to the No Kings website, planned rallies include:

Portland Metro Area:

• Portland Waterfront Park at Battleship Memorial: Noon-4 p.m.
• Highway 26 Sylvan Overpass: 2-4 p.m.
• Southeast Portland: 10-11:30 a.m.

Beaverton/Hillsboro:

• Hillsboro at Southeast 10th Avenue/Shute Park: 10 a.m.-noon
• Beaverton City Park: 2-4 p.m.
• Banners Over Bethany at Golden Valley Brewery: 3-5 p.m.

East County:

• Gresham City Hall: 10 a.m.-noon
• Damascus at Highway 212 and Southeast Foster Road: 10 a.m.-1 p.m.
• Sandy at Highway 26 and Industrial Way: Noon-2 p.m.
• Estacada City Hall: 11 a.m.-noon

Southwest Washington:

• Vancouver at Gretchen Fraser Park: Noon-2 p.m.
• Vancouver Seniors event: 1:30-2:30 p.m.
• Longview Civic Circle Park: Noon-1:30 p.m.

Willamette Valley:

• Salem (two locations): 12:30-1:30 p.m. and noon-3 p.m.
• McMinnville at Wortman Park: 11 a.m.-2 p.m.
• Silverton in front of closed Rite Aid: Noon-2 p.m.
• Woodburn at Safeway/Dutch Bros intersection: Noon-3 p.m.
• Dallas at Main and Ellendale: Noon-1 p.m.
• Albany: 2-4 p.m.
• Lebanon: 11 a.m.-1 p.m.
• Corvallis at Benton County Circuit Court: Noon-3 p.m.

Oregon Coast:

• Astoria Armory: Noon-2 p.m.
• Seaside Outlet Mall: 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
• Tillamook at Sue H Elmore Kayak Park: Noon-2 p.m.
• Cloverdale: Noon-2 p.m.
• Lincoln City: Noon-3 p.m.
• Newport City Hall: 1-3 p.m.
• Florence City Hall: Noon-2 p.m.

Other Communities:

• Tualatin: 10-11:30 a.m.
• Sherwood Highway 99 Pedestrian Bridge: 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
• Forest Grove at Big Flagpole: 4:30-6:30 p.m.
• Scappoose at Totem Pole: Noon-2 p.m.

During the June "No Kings" protests, thousands gathered peacefully in the Portland area and across Oregon. Portland and Vancouver police reported no arrests at those events.

Complete event details and locations are available on the No Kings website.

PORTLAND, Ore. — Portland and Seattle airports won't display a Department of Homeland Security video featuring Secretary Kristi Noem blaming Democrats for the ongoing government shutdown.

The footage, which was intended to play on monitors at Transportation Security Administration checkpoints nationwide, will not be shown to travelers at Portland International Airport or Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, according to airport authorities who confirmed their decisions Monday.

In the video, Noem states, "It is TSA's top priority to make sure that you have the most pleasant and efficient airport experience as possible while we keep you safe. However, Democrats in Congress refuse to fund the federal government, and because of this, many of our operations are impacted, and most of our TSA employees are working without pay."

The Port of Portland cited the Hatch Act, which prohibits use of public assets for political purposes, and Oregon state law barring public employees from promoting or opposing political parties. The Port of Seattle said it would not air the video "due to the political nature of its content."

The Hatch Act is a 1939 federal law that restricts the political activities of most executive branch employees to prevent the misuse of government positions for partisan purposes.

Government officials frequently appear on video at TSA checkpoints, but the videos are typically safety briefings that do not contain political messages.

The Department of Homeland Security announced the video would be shown at airports across the country as the government shutdown affects federal operations and TSA staffing. TSA workers and air traffic controllers are both deemed essential personnel and are working without pay while the government is shut down.

Some travelers at Portland International Airport expressed concern about the situation.

"I don't know. You know, the whole thing has me just — I'm disgusted with how something like this could happen in this country," said Janet Spilman.

Washington state Rep. Jim Walsh, a Republican, said the airports' decision was unnecessary.

"You cannot show Secretary Noem's safety video because she talks about the shutdown, but that's going to have no bearing on how the shutdown plays out back in D.C.," Walsh said. "So it is, in my opinion, just empty virtue signaling."

Airport officials said they are focused on supporting federal workers during the shutdown and urging lawmakers to reach an agreement.