Protest Against ICE in Portland

On Sunday, hundreds of protesters gathered in downtown Portland, demonstrating against U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). They briefly halted traffic while marching from City Hall to the South Waterfront Detention Facility.

The demonstrators, brandishing signs, demanded justice for Alex Preti and Renee Good. These two individuals were shot by federal agents in Minneapolis earlier this year, and the protesters insisted that ICE leave the city.

The rally, organized by the immigrant rights group Portland Contra Las Deportaciones, kicked off at City Hall before making its way to the ICE facility. One protester, Kami Sanders, expressed the general sentiment, stating, “People are outraged, and I think they realize that our leaders have a path to take.”

As tensions grew, video footage from the protest showed federal agents using tear gas and pepper balls on the crowd that had gathered outside the facility, which has served as an ICE office since 2011.

A female protester, identified only as Robin, recounted the chaos, saying, “About eight or ten people came out with guns and just started throwing them at the crowd. There were explosions everywhere. It looked like a battlefield.” She added, “I felt like I was being attacked. I definitely got hit. I had to go around the corner and throw a lot of water in my face.”

Oregon Governor Tina Kotek criticized the actions of federal agents, declaring that ICE “has no place in Oregon.” He referred to the use of tear gas against families and peaceful protesters as a “horrific abuse of power that undermined public safety and violated constitutional rights.” Kotek called for accountability from federal officials.

According to information available on the Portland city government’s website, ICE facilities are used as processing centers where federal agents assess individuals’ legal status and also serve as offices for immigrants engaging with ICE for citizenship processes. Interestingly, the facility is primarily secured by the Federal Protective Service, a branch of the Department of Homeland Security, rather than local police, although officers do monitor the vicinity for public safety.