Six Democratic Party mayors have urged the US Congress to block the Trump administration from sending federal law enforcement agents to their cities.
In a letter, the mayors argue that the agents’ presence, against the request of local authorities, is unlawful.
Among the signatories is the mayor of Portland, where federal agents have clashed with anti-racism protesters.
It comes as US Attorney General William Barr is set to defend their deployment during congressional testimony.
Mr Barr is to say that the Department of Justice’s decision to send security forces to the city of Portland, Oregon, was justified following attacks on federal buildings there.
Portland has seen 61 consecutive days of protests, which escalated after federal officers arrived this month.
The Portland protests began as part of the nationwide racial justice rallies triggered by the death of George Floyd, an unarmed black man, in Minneapolis, Minnesota, in May.
US President Donald Trump has said he may send forces to other cities to defend federal buildings from what he called anarchists and agitators.
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Trump’s crackdown on Portland protests explained
Mr Barr, who was appointed by Mr Trump and has defended the president’s campaign team over the Russia report, has been accused by Democrats of politicising the justice department.
The mayors of Portland, Chicago, Seattle, Albuquerque (New Mexico), Kansas City (Missouri) and Washington DC signed a letter on Monday accusing the Trump administration of “egregious use of federal force”.
“We call on Congress to pass legislation to make clear that these actions are unlawful and repugnant,” the letter, sent to the leaders of both parties in the Senate and House of Representatives and tweeted by Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler, added.
