Federal agents deployed tear gas against protesters gathered outside the U.S.Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) building in Portland, Oregon, just after 7:30 p.m.on Saturday, escalating tensions during ongoing demonstrations. The reason for the gas deployment remains unclear.
The incident occurred as a small but growing crowd had assembled too protest ICE policies and practices. Demonstrations in Portland have been frequent in recent years, reflecting national debates over immigration enforcement and federal authority, particularly following heightened scrutiny of ICE’s actions and policies under various administrations. This latest deployment of tear gas adds to a pattern of confrontations between federal law enforcement and protesters in the city, raising questions about the use of force against demonstrators and the ongoing response to protests.
According to reporting from The Oregonian,federal agents deployed gas on the crowd a second time shortly after the initial deployment,again without a clear explanation. The situation is developing and further updates are expected as more information becomes available.