There is no doubt about this: As protesters continued to struggle with federal officials Wednesday night and Thursday early, police detained at least seven individuals in the vicinity of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility in Portland’s South Waterfront.
However, federal authorities and Portland Police Bureau officials presented rather different accounts of what transpired among the 250 individuals who congregated close to the ICE building on South Macadam Avenue, which has been the focus of recent protests over President Trump’s immigration enforcement.
In a social media post, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security labeled them all rioters and stated that five of them were eventually taken into custody by federal officials.
Federal law enforcement was brutally targeted by rioters in Portland. The agency stated in a statement posted Thursday morning on its X account that 250 rioters assaulted an ICE field office, set off pyrotechnics, and temporarily blinded police with lasers.
Portland rioters brutally attacked federal law police last night. 250 rioters rushed an ICE field office, set off pyrotechnics, and briefly blinded cops with lasers. Five people were ultimately taken into custody on a number of offenses, including assault onpic.twitter.com/bCaMA9yKai.
Several films show that during the tumultuous altercation, federal cops wearing tactical gear appeared to use smoke, tear gas, flash grenades, and other missiles.
Homeland Security’s X account stated, “We will not stand by and watch these cowards.”
The protest was described as a generally lawful assembly by the Portland Police Bureau separately. Two people had been taken into custody by the bureau, according to the same press release issued on Thursday.
According to Portland police, Eduardo Diaz, 22, was cited by investigators on suspicion of illegally directing light from a laser pointer. According to the agency, Mariana Rivera-Loza, 19, was later taken into custody and checked into the Multnomah County Detention Center on charges of second-degree trespassing.
According to court documents and law enforcement officials, since June 8, more than two dozen persons have been arrested on a variety of state and federal counts.Charges of assaulting a federal officer have been brought against at least three individuals.
Portland police reaffirmed in their news release that sanctuary laws prevent the bureau from enforcing immigration laws. The bureau is still in charge of upholding state laws and ensuring public safety, though.
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— Shane Dixon Kavanaugh focuses on accountability and watchdog reporting while covering politics and local administration in Portland. You can contact him at skavanaugh@oregonian.com or 503-294-7632.
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‘Largely lawful’ or ‘violently’ rioting? Portland police and feds split on nightly ICE protest
‘Largely lawful’ or ‘violently’ rioting? Portland police and feds split on nightly ICE protest
‘Largely lawful’ or ‘violently’ rioting? Portland police and feds split on nightly ICE protest