ICE Violated Portland Policies with Detention Practices, City Leaders Say

"When Portland gave Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE) the green light to open a processing and holding facility in the South Waterfront in 2011, the city set conditions for the agency to operate in the space. Among other requirements, the conditional use permit prohibited ICE from holding detainees at its Portland facility overnight, or for more than 12 hours. Now, Portland leaders say ICE has violated that tenet of its agreement with the city."

"An investigation by the city's permitting bureau showed the agency held detainees beyond the maximum time allotted on 25 occasions between October 1, 2024 and July 27, 2025. According to Mayor Keith Wilson, the city will send ICE a land use violation notice this week, starting a longer process to determine the agency's compliance with city code. "U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement made clear detention limitation commitments to our community," Wilson said in a press release. "I am proud of our team for conducting a thorough, thoughtful investigation, and referring the matter to the next steps in the land use violation process.""

"The announcement comes after months of protests at the ICE facility, with many demonstrators calling on the city to revoke ICE's conditional use permit. The demand has been controversial. Some local immigration attorneys and advocates have said closing the South Waterfront facility could make it more difficult to help those who have been detained by ICE. Without access to a local holding facility, advocates say, ICE agents may take detainees out of the state to the Northwest Detention Center or similar facilities. At that point, it's much more difficult for attorneys to advocate for their prompt release."

Portland's conditional use permit for an ICE processing and holding facility in South Waterfront prohibited overnight detention and holding detainees for more than 12 hours. A city permitting bureau investigation found ICE held detainees beyond that maximum on 25 occasions between October 1, 2024 and July 27, 2025. Portland will send ICE a land use violation notice and begin a process to assess compliance with city code. Months of protests have demanded permit revocation, while some immigration attorneys warn closure could force transfers out of state, hindering legal representation and prompt release.

Read at Portland Mercury