A federal judge’s temporary halt on President Donald Trump’s plan to deploy 200 members of the Oregon National Guard to Portland was quickly overshadowed by a significant escalation in tactics from federal law enforcement officers against protesters this past Saturday.
Shortly after the judge’s ruling, federal officers confronted a gathering of over 100 protesters outside the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility in Portland.
The protesters were primarily voicing their opposition to federal law enforcement and President Trump’s mass deportation policies, echoing sentiments expressed in prior demonstrations.
On this particular night, federal officers took a notably aggressive approach, pushing the demonstrators hundreds of yards down city streets while deploying tear gas, flash-bang grenades, and pepper balls.
This approach was a departure from previous nights, where confrontations had remained relatively low-key.
Reports indicate that the aggressive crowd management began around 8 p.m. as federal officers moved out from the ICE facility to create space for vehicles, initially clearing the driveway.
However, this time, officers continued pushing the crowd farther back into the neighborhood along South Bancroft Street and South Moody Avenue, leaving protesters dramatically questioning the reasons behind this escalation.
“Why are we being asked to step back on public city streets?” one demonstrator asked.
Amidst the chaos, videographers in high-visibility vests captured the unfolding events.
At least two drones were also observed flying overhead, documenting the scene.
The confrontations lasted for about 15 minutes, during which time federal officers moved to effectively corner the protesters near the intersection with South Bond Avenue.
After a brief pause, federal officers deployed tear gas and other chemical munitions directly at the protesters, followed by a tactical retreat back to the ICE building, during which pepper balls were fired.
Protesters reported feeling overwhelmed as they stumbled back, questioning if the excessive use of force was intended to provoke a violent reaction.
One protester, identifying herself as Rainbow, expressed concern about the situation, stating that the aggressive tactics felt calculated to incite confrontation.
“I saw that they wanted us to fight,” she said, noting a mark on her pants from being shot with a flash-bang.
Another participant shared her thoughts, describing the night’s events as the most intense in months, pointing out the increased use of gas and aggression from officers compared to previous protests.
“It’s a lot of gas, a lot more than in the past,” she stated.
The trigger for the heightened response from federal officers remains unclear, especially since witnesses reported only one individual being arrested during the evening’s clashes, coinciding with the initial clearing of the driveway.
Questions regarding the escalation were sent to both the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Portland Police Bureau, but neither provided immediate comments on the matter.
Earlier that same day, federal officers had already deployed tear gas in response to protesters marching to the ICE facility from a nearby park, leading to at least seven arrests by the afternoon.
Protests have been a near-constant presence in Portland, with participants increasingly focused on denouncing the operations of ICE and the policies of the Trump administration.
One protester, Holly, who was arrested earlier in the day, spoke to the galvanizing effect of her experience.
Her time inside the facility strengthened her resolve to advocate for its closure, highlighting the local push to reconsider the building’s operational permits.
The events unfolded against the backdrop of U.S. District Court Judge Karin Immergut’s earlier ruling that had temporarily blocked President Trump’s deployment of National Guard members, on the grounds that such actions could exacerbate the unrest in the city.
This ruling is part of a broader legal challenge initiated by state and city officials against the federal government, which argues that Trump’s deployment was unlawful.
Judge Immergut observed that prior to the National Guard’s proposed deployment, protests had remained largely non-violent, and the situation did not signify a significant threat to federal functions.
She noted, “The president’s deployment of federal troops was likely to inflame protests,” referencing similar instances of unrest in the past due to federal troop interventions in urban areas.
The situation intensified as protests began attracting more right-leaning activists and livestreamers, particularly after the arrest of conservative media figure Nick Sortor by Portland police earlier in the week.
On Saturday evening, right-wing supporters cheered federal officers as they used crowd-control munitions against protesters, illustrating a division among onlookers regarding the response to law enforcement and protest activities.
The Portland Police Bureau was present, observing the aggressive tactics employed by federal officers, yet they reportedly stated they were unable to intervene given the situation involved federal law enforcement.
As federal officers cleared crowd members from the scene, they removed a large banner that read “Abolish ICE,” further emphasizing the confrontational atmosphere in the area.
The use of tear gas drove many protesters to seek relief, splashing water in their eyes to alleviate the effects, but remarkably, this did not deter their efforts.
By 10:30 p.m., the initial group of protesters had doubled in size in front of the ICE facility, signaling a resurgence of determination among demonstrators in the face of escalating federal force.
The clash between federal law enforcement and protesters in Portland reflects a growing tension surrounding immigration policies, federal intervention, and civil rights, spotlighted by ongoing protests that resist the established order put forth by the Trump administration.
image source from：opb
