Portland Mayor Demands ICE Departure Following Use of Tear Gas on Protesters, Including Children
PORTLAND, Ore. — Mayor Keith Wilson issued a forceful demand Sunday for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to withdraw from Portland, following a weekend confrontation where federal agents deployed tear gas, flash-bang grenades, and rubber bullets against demonstrators outside an ICE facility. The mayor stated the protest was peaceful and included families with young children.
In a sharply worded statement, Wilson characterized the federal agents' actions as "unconscionable" and a violation of constitutional rights. "Federal forces deployed heavy waves of chemical munitions against a peaceful daytime protest," Wilson said. "The vast majority of those present violated no laws, posed no threat, and posed no danger."
The mayor directly addressed ICE personnel: "To those who continue to work for ICE: Resign. To those who control this facility: Leave... ask yourselves why you have gassed children." He accused the agency of having "lost all legitimacy" through its "use of violence and the trampling of the Constitution."
The incident adds to growing national tension over immigration enforcement tactics, coming weeks after two high-profile killings of U.S. citizens by federal immigration agents in Minneapolis. Those cases have drawn bipartisan scrutiny and fueled protests against agencies like ICE and Customs and Border Protection (CBP).
Portland officials are now moving to enforce a recently passed ordinance that imposes fees on detention facilities using chemical agents. "We are documenting today's events and preserving evidence. The federal government must, and will, be held accountable," Wilson wrote, vowing continued support for immigrant communities.
Reaction & Analysis:
The mayor's demand places Portland at the forefront of a widening clash between progressive local governments and federal immigration authorities. Legal experts note that while a mayor lacks direct authority to expel a federal agency, the political and legal pressure—including the new fee ordinance—could complicate ICE's operations in the city.
Voices from the Community:
"This isn't just about one protest. It's about whether federal agents can use military-grade tactics on American streets against people exercising their First Amendment rights," said Maya Chen, a civil rights attorney based in Portland. "The mayor is right to draw a line."
"I was there with my eight-year-old. We were handing out water, not throwing anything. The gas came without warning. It's pure intimidation," shared David Miller, a local teacher and protest attendee.
"Wilson's rhetoric is reckless and undermines law enforcement. These facilities are legal, and agents have a right to defend them. If protestors swarm a federal building, what are they supposed to do? This is political theater that puts both officers and the public at risk," argued Senator Mark Roberts (R), striking a sharply critical tone.
"The ordinance fining the use of chemical agents is a clever legal strategy. It doesn't block federal action directly but makes it politically and financially costly. Other cities will be watching," noted Dr. Lena Rodriguez, a political science professor at the University of Oregon.