‘An assault on our democracy’: Portland moves to boot ICE as feds unleash rubber bullets and ‘gas attacks’ on citizens

The city of Portland, which leans politically progressive, is looking into legal ways to force Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) out of its building in the South Waterfront area. This location has become a center of violent clashes between federal agents and citizens.

The city’s efforts follow claims that ICE has broken the rules of its property permit, as well as ongoing worries from residents and officials about how federal agents have handled protests. According to Fox, Portland city council members held a crowded meeting where they talked about canceling ICE’s permit for its facility on South Moody Avenue, which was approved in 2011.

The main issue raised by officials and a local report is that ICE has often held detainees longer than the 12-hour limit allowed by the permit, with more than two dozen reported violations. Beyond breaking permit rules, residents and council members also expressed strong ethical objections. Michelle Dar, a local resident, argued that the facility goes against Portland’s sanctuary city policy and that federal agents’ use of weapons puts everyone’s safety at risk, not just immigrants.

ICE won’t behave so its getting evicted from city building

People also complained about the noise from loud explosions and flash bangs disturbing residents in low-income housing and students at a nearby school. While a few blamed Antifa for increasing the violence, the council mostly focused on ICE’s alleged permit violations.

Since June, the facility has been the site of chaotic protests, with anti-ICE demonstrators trying to stop federal vehicles. In response, agents have fired rubber bullets, tear gas, and flash bangs. Some violent protesters have also been accused of breaking windows, throwing rocks and other objects at agents and the building, and, on the Fourth of July, cutting internet cables, damaging the sprinkler system, and burning an American flag.

City Council Member Angelita Morillo said that letting ICE continue operating despite permit violations would send a dangerous message. City Council Member Steve Novick took a stronger position, calling the situation an “an assault on our democracy as a whole” and saying the “assault on immigrants” is just the beginning. City Council Member Eric Zimmerman confirmed that the city’s legal team is currently reviewing options to cancel the permit.

Meanwhile, federal leaders have pushed back. Border Czar Tom Homan recently promised to increase enforcement in sanctuary cities that interfere with ICE’s work, specifically naming Portland. He said that if “dangerous individuals” cannot be arrested in jails, agents will go into neighborhoods and carry out more workplace arrests, targeting “undocumented immigrants” who may not have criminal records but are living in the country without legal permission.