Trump administration moves to send in more federal agents to reinforce Portland courthouse

The Trump administration will reportedly send more federal agents to Portland, Oregon to help shield against the nightly violent clashes between law enforcement and protestors, vandals, and rioters. 

Last week, the administration send 100 deputy U.S. Marshals to Portland to strengthen the forces around the city's downtown courthouse. The Department of Homeland Security is now considering a plan to send 50 U.S. Customs and Border Patrol agents to the city. 

Since mid-July, there have been 114 federal agents stationed in and around the courthouse, it is unclear if the newly assigned forces will add to that number, or work to relieve some of the agents that have been on duty. 

In recent days, violent demonstrators have begun aiming commercial-grade fireworks at federal agents, and pointing lasers at their eyes, leading to several injuries. 

A decision to increase the number of federal agents in the city will likely anger local officials, who have voiced their vehement disagreement with the president's actions. They argue that Trump's actions are feeding on the conflict of the moment and making things worse, though violent riots have been taking place in Portland for close to 60-days straight now.