A significant protest against President Donald Trump and his administration saw approximately 50,000 participants marching peacefully through downtown Portland on Saturday. However, the atmosphere shifted dramatically hours later when a smaller group splintered off to stage a demonstration at the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility. This event quickly descended into chaos, marked by federal agents using tear gas and less-lethal rounds as protesters vandalized the building’s entrance and established barricades in the street.
By the end of the night, Portland police had declared the situation a riot, leading to the arrest of three individuals. This brought the total arrests near the ICE facility that week to 16. The violent confrontation drew the attention of U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem, who reported that four federal agents sustained injuries during the incident.
In response, Mayor Keith Wilson stated on Sunday that while the injuries to three federal officers were acknowledged, they were not severe enough to necessitate medical treatment. He stressed, “Portland has not requested and does not require the intervention of the National Guard. Deploying military troops to the heart of an American city, as the administration has in Los Angeles, is an unwarranted, unprecedented, and unconstitutional action.”
The mayor’s remarks indicated a concern that the tumult at the ICE facility overshadowed the earlier peaceful rally, particularly in conservative media coverage.
When protesters arrived at the ICE site, they encountered a strong law enforcement presence, with agents already deploying less-lethal munitions. The facility’s exterior bore signs of agitation, covered in graffiti that included messages like “FUCK ICE,” “ICE OUT OF PDX,” and “BRING THEM HOME.” Throughout the preceding week, demonstrators had maintained a presence outside the ICE facility as news spread about recent arrests of asylum seekers at the Portland Immigration Court, amid a national wave of protests spurred by federal immigration actions.
Saturday’s protesters faced a barrage of tear gas, pepper balls, and other nonlethal tactics. The Oregonian reported that a chemical agent identified as CS gas—banned by former Mayor Ted Wheeler for riot control—was among the crowd dispersal tools used. Law enforcement also stationed agents on the roof of the ICE building, who intermittently fired projectiles into the crowd.
An intercom announcement warned the crowd that any actions on private property would lead to arrests, blending into the cacophony of chants such as “Chinga la migra!” and calls for the agents on the roof to “Jump! Jump! Jump!” In reaction, protesters threw tear gas canisters and other items back at the agents while forming a makeshift barrier out of building materials.
Around 5:00 PM, escalating tensions led to demonstrators breaking through the entrance of the ICE facility, shattering glass doors and windows. Portland police deemed the assemblage a riot soon after 6:30 PM.
Following the breach, agents took immediate action by securing the area and arresting at least one protester who was subdued by multiple officials. Reports from the Portland Mercury noted that at least one individual sustained injuries serious enough to require hospitalization.
Police indicated that the initial signs of criminal activity were evident upon their arrival, prompting the deployment of various law enforcement units. Two more arrests occurred later that night, including one for throwing a rock at the facility and another for tampering with traffic control devices. Law enforcement later clarified that their actions were based on criminal conduct rather than the exercise of free speech, with more charges expected as investigations continue.
By 9:00 PM, authorities announced that the situation had stabilized and was no longer classified as a riot. The Department of Homeland Security later confirmed on social media that four federal agents were injured, and Secretary Noem issued a stern warning to protesters, stating, “Secretary Noem’s message to the rioters is clear: you will not stop us or slow us down. ICE and our federal law enforcement partners will continue to enforce the law. If you lay a hand on a law enforcement officer, you will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”
Previously, the Homeland Security social media accounts had focused largely on unrest in Los Angeles, making this attention on Portland particularly noteworthy. In response to the day’s events, Mayor Wilson added, “If we witness federal abuse following this incident or any other pretext, we will bring it to light, take legal action, and take the fight to federal courts, where we will prevail.”