On Sunday afternoon, several hundred people gathered outside the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) building in Portland to protest the Trump administration’s announcement of sending National Guard troops to the city. The crowd included families, grandparents, children on bikes, and longtime activists wearing black clothing, ski masks, and sunglasses, known as “black bloc” protesters.
Hundreds Gather at ICE Building in Portland
The protest began peacefully, with chants, drumming, and people linking arms. The atmosphere was lively but mostly free of violent incidents during the early hours. Protesters expressed their opposition to what they viewed as the federal government overstepping its authority.
Federal agents armed with long-barrel firearms patrolled nearby rooftops, and an armed escort of about two dozen agents moved into the crowd whenever vehicles passed through the streets. The demonstration led to temporary closures of bus routes in the area. Portland police officers were also present, primarily directing traffic to ensure public safety.
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Clashes and Tensions Rise
Later in the evening, tensions increased between protesters and federal agents. Several demonstrators were hit with pepper balls as ICE personnel tried to escort a vehicle into the building. More than a dozen counterprotesters attended the event, marking an increase from previous nights. Many exchanged verbal clashes with the main protest group.
One organizer, who gave her first name as Dina, described herself as the wife of a veteran. She said the deployment of the National Guard to U.S. cities represented a “moral injury” to her husband. Dina, who is also a deacon at a local church, said, “We are not going to stand for people following illegal orders.”
Photographs from the event showed Department of Homeland Security (DHS) agents wearing masks and shields confronting demonstrators, as well as protesters holding signs reading “End Deportations” and “Abolish ICE.” Protesters were seen embracing each other, standing in wheelchairs, and waving their hands while confronting federal personnel.
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The deployment memorandum stated that 200 members of the Oregon National Guard were sent to Portland as part of a nationwide initiative to protect ICE and other U.S. government personnel carrying out administrative actions. DHS officials, including Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs Tricia McLaughlin, cited “weeks of violent riots at ICE facilities” and potential threats from domestic terrorists as justification for the increased federal presence, despite no such incidents occurring in Portland.
Portland City Leaders and Residents Respond
Local leaders and Oregon state officials urged calm as federal agents began arriving in the city. Many residents expressed frustration over the administration’s description of Portland as a dangerous location requiring military intervention.
Dina emphasized that most protesters were “average, everyday citizens” exercising their constitutional rights. She criticized suggestions from city officials to remain passive, saying these messages “perpetuate the Trump administration’s posturing about how we are dangerous protesters.”
Democratic leaders in Portland and Oregon openly opposed the troop deployment, arguing that it was unnecessary and that the president’s portrayal of the city did not reflect reality. In contrast, prominent Republicans praised the decision. Oregon House Minority Leader Christine Drazan described the city as being in a state that required federal intervention, while former Oregon representative Lori Chavez-DeRemer cited personal observations of increasing crime in Portland.
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The state of Oregon and the city of Portland filed a federal lawsuit challenging the administration’s action, arguing that sending troops to the city exceeded federal authority.
The protest drew attention from local and national media, highlighting the ongoing debate over federal involvement in city policing and immigration enforcement. Hundreds of protesters remained outside the ICE facility throughout the evening, demonstrating a strong and organized opposition to the National Guard deployment.
