Portland Takes Action Against ICE Facility
Portland’s Sanctuary City announced on Thursday that it would send a notice of land use violation to the local U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) building. This follows ongoing protests over the facility, which have sometimes turned violent. According to city officials, the notice is the beginning of a review process to determine if the McAdam Avenue facility is in compliance with land use permit regulations established in 2011.
This decision was prompted by a report from a local nonprofit alleging that the facility had detained individuals over 25 times from October 1 to July 27. The data used for this report came from ICE documents obtained under the Freedom of Information Act.
The city is also planning to issue a second violation concerning boarded-up windows that are not approved under land use regulations. ICE has not responded to requests for comment.
Mayor Keith Wilson of Portland stated, “U.S. immigration and customs enforcement have made it clear to us regarding our community’s commitment to restrict detention. We believe they have more than doubled those policies.” He expressed pride in the thorough investigation that led to the current action against the facility.
According to the Land Use Permit Rules, the facility’s owners or operators have 30 days to address the violations after receiving the notice. If violations are substantiated, penalties could follow. The city may also reconsider land use approvals by scheduling a hearing 60 days post-notification.
The facility has become a focal point in the debate over immigration policies, especially as protesters have frequently gathered outside, sometimes clashing with federal agents.
The exterior walls of the facility are adorned with anti-ICE graffiti, a testament to the ongoing turmoil. Tensions have boiled over into violent encounters between protesters and federal agents, requiring law enforcement to use rubber bullets to manage crowds during one incident. In another instance, protesters were filmed using makeshift guillotines as they faced off with police.
In July, the progressive Portland city council indicated it was looking for methods to expel ICE from its detention centers. Under Portland’s Sanctuary Policy, city employees, including police, are not permitted to enforce federal immigration laws, aligning with Oregon’s own sanctuary laws that limit local law enforcement’s involvement in immigration enforcement without a warrant.
Following the turmoil during Labor Day protests, Mayor Wilson reaffirmed the city’s dedication to sanctuary policies. He remarked, “Under any circumstances, we don’t get involved with or tackle ICE, so it’s safe.”
The building is managed by the General Services Agency (GSA) for federal operations linked to ICE, which includes processing centers for detainees during immigration assessments.
