The mayor of Portland, Oregon, has urged U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to exit the city following a weekend incident where federal agents deployed tear gas on a crowd of protesters, including children, gathered outside an ICE facility.
Mayor Keith Wilson described the protests on Saturday as largely peaceful. However, reports mention that federal agents used tear gas, pepper balls, flash grenades, and rubber bullets against those demonstrating against ICE.
Wilson criticized the actions of the ICE agents, asserting they violated constitutional rights and called for their resignation from Portland. “On that day, federal forces unleashed significant amounts of chemical weapons, undermining peaceful protests where most participants were not breaking any laws or posing threats,” he stated.
“To those still working for ICE: it’s time to resign. To the leaders of this facility: leave now. You’ve erased any legitimacy you had by resorting to violence and violating the Constitution,” he added. He urged those responsible for such decisions to reflect on their actions and consider the implications, particularly regarding the use of force against children.
Wilson emphasized that the country should not accept a government that deploys lethal force against its citizens. “I share the urgency felt by many who demand we explore all legal avenues to challenge this intolerable violence against our community,” he remarked. He acknowledged the need for proactive measures but noted that effective action that can withstand judicial scrutiny takes time. “We cannot afford to lose this battle,” he concluded.
Moreover, Portland officials are looking to enforce a newly enacted ordinance from last month that penalizes detention facilities for utilizing chemical agents.
As they prepare to implement this legislation, Wilson ensured that they are documenting the recent events for accountability. “Portland will always stand with our immigrant neighbors, ensuring their safety and dignity in the communities they contribute to. The residents demonstrated resilience and clarity in their shared values against federal overreach through their peaceful solidarity.”
This incident comes amidst ongoing national unrest and bipartisan scrutiny surrounding immigration enforcement practices, especially following the deaths of two U.S. citizens at the hands of federal immigration agents in Minneapolis last month.
On January 7, Renee Nicole Good was fatally shot by ICE officer Jonathan Ross, and on January 24, Alex Preti was killed by Border Patrol agent Jesús Ochoa and Customs and Border Protection agent Raymundo Gutierrez while documenting ICE’s activities in the city.
Preti, an ICU nurse, was reportedly attempting to assist a woman who had collapsed during the incident when he was shot. Video footage and eyewitness accounts suggest he was trying to help as agents restrained the woman and were ultimately seen disarming him before the fatal shots were fired.
