Portland’s mayor has called for the removal of ICE from the city following the use of tear gas and flash-bang grenades against peaceful protesters, including children.
The mayor of Portland, Oregon, has demanded that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) vacate the city after federal agents reportedly deployed tear gas and other crowd control measures against demonstrators outside an ICE facility over the weekend.
Mayor Keith Wilson described the protests on Saturday as peaceful gatherings, emphasizing that the majority of those present posed no threat. Despite this, federal agents allegedly used tear gas, pepper balls, flash-bang grenades, and rubber bullets against the anti-ICE demonstrators.
In a statement, Wilson condemned the actions of federal agents, calling their use of violence a “trampling of the Constitution.” He stated, “Today, federal forces deployed heavy waves of chemical munitions, impacting a peaceful daytime protest where the vast majority of those present violated no laws, made no threat, and posed no danger to federal forces.”
Wilson urged ICE agents to resign and called for the agency to leave Portland entirely. He expressed his outrage, saying, “To those who continue to work for ICE: Resign. To those who control this facility: Leave. Through your use of violence and the trampling of the Constitution, you have lost all legitimacy and replaced it with shame.”
The mayor further challenged ICE agents to reflect on their actions, asking, “Go home, look in a mirror, and ask yourselves why you have gassed children. Ask yourselves why you continue to work for an agency responsible for murders on American streets.” He emphasized that the nation will not tolerate a federal presence that employs deadly force against the very people they are sworn to protect.
Wilson acknowledged the urgency felt by many in the community to take legal action against such violence. “I share the impatience with those who demand we use every legal tool at our disposal to push back against this inexcusable, unconscionable, and unacceptable violence against our community,” he stated. “Actions that can withstand the scrutiny of the justice system take time – and we cannot afford to lose this fight.”
In response to the recent events, Portland officials are working to implement an ordinance that imposes a fee on detention facilities that utilize chemical agents, which went into effect last month. Wilson noted, “As we prepare to put that law into action, we are also documenting today’s events and preserving evidence. The federal government must, and will, be held accountable.”
He reinforced Portland’s commitment to its immigrant community, asserting, “Portland will continue to stand firmly with our immigrant neighbors, who deserve safety, dignity, and the full protection of the communities they help build.” He also expressed pride in the Portlanders who participated in the peaceful protest, highlighting their solidarity in the face of federal overreach.
This incident occurs amid ongoing national unrest and bipartisan criticism of immigration enforcement tactics, particularly following two killings of U.S. citizens by federal immigration agents last month in Minneapolis. The deaths of Renee Nicole Good and Alex Pretti have intensified scrutiny of ICE and Border Patrol operations.
Good was shot and killed by ICE agent Jonathan Ross on January 7, while Pretti was fatally shot on January 24 by Border Patrol agent Jesus Ochoa and Customs and Border Protection officer Raymundo Gutierrez. Pretti, an ICU nurse, was reportedly trying to assist a woman when he was confronted by agents, leading to a violent altercation that resulted in his death.
As the situation in Portland continues to unfold, Mayor Wilson’s demands reflect a growing concern over the actions of federal agents and their impact on local communities, particularly in the context of immigration enforcement.
According to Fox News, the mayor’s statements underscore a broader call for accountability and reform in federal immigration practices.