In Portland, Residents Seek a Judge's Order to Stop ICE Flooding Apartments with Tear Gas

"In the wake of the killing of multiple American citizens by ICE and Border Patrol, protests outside of the ICE office in Portland's South Waterfront neighborhood have continued on a regular basis, frequently turning violent when masked agents deploy chemical munitions including fired pepper balls and tear gas against peaceful crowds."

"One large case, brought by protestors and independent journalists, is in front of U.S. District Court Judge Michael Simon, and sees protestors arguing that ICE agents have continued to deploy tear gas against peaceful protestors even in the absence of any threat, in violation of Judge Simon's own earlier restraining order."

"They're arguing that their First Amendment rights to free speech and protest have been violated by agents attempting to purge the area of those resisting Trump's immigration apparatus, under the rationale that federal agents need those crowd control chemicals thanks to the fact that the building is 'frequently besieged by violent agitators and obstructive crowd.'"

ICE operations in Portland have become increasingly visible during the second Trump administration, with regular protests occurring outside the ICE office in South Waterfront. These demonstrations have frequently turned violent when masked federal agents deploy chemical munitions including pepper balls and tear gas against peaceful crowds. Multiple groups affected by these chemical weapons are now pursuing legal action against ICE through federal courts. One significant case before U.S. District Court Judge Michael Simon involves protesters and independent journalists arguing that ICE agents violated a prior restraining order by continuing to use tear gas against peaceful demonstrators without legitimate threat justification. The protesters contend their First Amendment rights to free speech and assembly have been violated, while ICE claims the chemicals are necessary due to violent agitators besieging the building—a claim unsupported by actual criminal charges against most Portland protesters.

Read at Jezebel