Ongoing Protests at ICE in Portland: A Community Divided

Wed Oct 22 2025 18:14:40 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

In Portland, Oregon, nightly protests outside the ICE building continue, drawing attention from both demonstrators and federal authorities. Mayor Keith Wilson stands firm against federal interventions, while local residents express concerns over noise and safety.

Since July, nightly protests at the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) building in Portland have persisted, symbolizing a community divided over immigration issues. While these demonstrations echo the unrest seen after George Floyd's murder in 2020, they now feature protesters clad in black gear facing off against police. Despite President Trump's threats to deploy federal troops, local officials, including Mayor Wilson, oppose federal intervention, emphasizing the need to address safety and expression without escalating tensions. Meanwhile, local residents experience disruptions, with some even resorting to lawsuits amid fears for their safety.

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — A gas mask hung from Deidra Watts’s backpack as she joined a group of protesters outside the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) building in Portland, a scene that has become familiar since July.

The crowd stood along a blue line painted across the driveway that read, GOVERNMENT PROPERTY DO NOT BLOCK. When protesters ventured too close, police on the roof responded with what appeared to be pepper balls. Fortunately, no injuries were reported during the latest demonstration.

These nightly protests, which have been a source of disruption for nearby residents, are a stark contrast to the violent unrest that engulfed the city following George Floyd’s murder by police in 2020.

President Trump has taken note of the demonstrations, labeling life in Portland as akin to “living in hell” and suggesting the possibility of sending in federal troops, a tactic he has utilized to combat crime in other cities like Chicago and Baltimore.

Despite the narrative of urban chaos, recent statistics reveal a drop in violent crime across the nation. In Portland, it appears that homicides have decreased by 51% in the first half of this year.

Casey Leger, a local observer, argues that claims of a crime epidemic are exaggerated, suggesting that Portland offers peaceful spots, merely a few blocks away from the protest site.

In the late evening, Watts and other demonstrators arrive, expressing their opposition to ICE’s actions. They see community accountability as necessary in the face of immigration enforcement practices they deem cruel.

As tensions rise, clashes between protesters and law enforcement—including displays of a prop guillotine—have drawn critical remarks from federal authorities.

While Portland's leadership seeks to balance the freedom of expression with public safety, community members express mixed feelings about the protests. Some residents have taken legal action to address noise disturbances, and there are concerns about the safety of students at a nearby charter school that recently relocated.