Portland's Mayor Calls for Departure of Immigration Officials Following Protest Clash
The city of Portland, Oregon has made a significant demand following a weekend protest. The city's mayor is calling for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to depart from the city. This follows reports that federal agents used tear gas on a crowd of protesters, including children, outside an ICE facility. The mayor has described the protest as peaceful.
According to those present, federal agents used tear gas, pepper balls, and rubber bullets on the crowd as the protesters arrived at the South Waterfront facility. One individual present at the protest described being about a football field's length away from the building when agents started dispersing gas into the crowd.
A Terrifying Scene
Describing the scene, the individual recounted the panic as parents attempted to protect their children, and people in motorized carts tried to navigate away from the chaos. The sense of fear and uncertainty about how to reach safety was palpable.
Queries were sent to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, which oversees ICE, seeking to confirm the incident's details, including whether federal agents did indeed use tear gas against protesters.
Mayor's Statement
Portland's Mayor Keith Wilson described the daytime protest as peaceful, with the majority of participants not breaking any laws or posing any threat to federal agents. The Mayor issued a strong message to ICE workers and those in charge of the facility, calling for their resignation and departure from the city. He accused them of using violence and disregarding the Constitution, trading their legitimacy for shame.
Emergency medical personnel were dispatched to the scene to treat those affected by the incident, as confirmed by the city's police. The police also reported that they monitored the crowd, but did not make any arrests on that day.
Details about the Facility
The ICE facility in question is a field office that includes a processing center. This is where federal officers detain and interview individuals to determine their legal status as U.S. residents.
The protest in Portland was not an isolated incident. Similar demonstrations have occurred nationwide against the current administration's immigration policies. This includes cities like Minneapolis, where federal agents have recently been involved in incidents resulting in the deaths of two residents.
Other Protests
In Eugene, Oregon, federal agents deployed tear gas when protesters broke windows and attempted to gain entry into a Federal Building. The city's police declared a riot and ordered the crowd to disperse.
Response from the Administration
A message was shared on social media by the current administration stating that it was up to local law enforcement agencies to police protests in their cities. However, the Homeland Security Secretary has been instructed to ensure that federal agents protect U.S. government facilities vigorously.
The administration has declared that they will not tolerate any disrespect towards officers or damage to property. Any actions of this nature will be met with equal or greater consequences.
Portland's Stance
The Mayor of Portland has announced that the city will impose a fee on detention facilities that use chemical agents. He stated that the federal government will be held accountable for its actions. The Mayor urged those making these decisions to question their actions, particularly in light of the use of gas on children.