Portland ICE Facility Endures 100+ Nights of Violence as Police Chief Defends 'Crowd Support' Approach
ICE Portland director Cammila Wamsley says the office "has endured more than 100 straight nights of violence," including bottle rockets, rocks shattering windows, lasers aimed at officers' eyes and barricades blocking vehicles, while Portland Police Chief Bob Day has defended the bureau’s "crowd support" approach in an Oregonian op‑ed—citing a 17% reduction in violent crime—even as city leaders reportedly limited direct police responses and the Federal Protective Service secures the building amid DOJ scrutiny. DHS is evaluating purchases of new facilities to expand operations in Portland, has implemented enhanced security measures at federal sites (including rooftop snipers), and Republican officials such as Gov. Kristi Noem have warned more federal law‑enforcement could be deployed if local leaders do not cooperate.
đź“Ś Key Facts
- ICE Portland director Cammila Wamsley said the Portland ICE office "has endured more than 100 straight nights of violence," including bottle rockets striking the building, rocks shattering windows, lasers aimed at officers' eyes, and barricades blocking vehicles.
- Portland Police Chief Bob Day published an op‑ed in The Oregonian defending the department’s "crowd support" policing approach and citing a 17% reduction in violent crime since he took over.
- City leaders have ordered Portland police not to respond directly to certain federal facility incidents, while the Federal Protective Service secures the ICE building—highlighting disputed jurisdiction and Department of Justice scrutiny of the Portland Police Bureau.
- The Department of Homeland Security is evaluating purchases of new facilities in Portland to expand operations despite local resistance, and federal officials have warned they may deploy more federal law enforcement if city leaders do not meet DHS demands on safety and cooperation.
- DHS is implementing enhanced security measures at federal sites in response to recent attacks on ICE officers and facilities, measures that have included positioning rooftop snipers.
đź“š Contextual Background
- U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is the federal agency responsible for apprehending and detaining people suspected of being undocumented immigrants in the United States.
đź“° Sources (3)
- DHS is evaluating purchases of new facilities in Portland to expand operations despite local resistance.
- Noem warned Portland officials that more federal law enforcement will be deployed if city leaders do not meet DHS demands on safety and cooperation.
- DHS is implementing enhanced security at federal sites, including rooftop snipers, in response to recent attacks on ICE officers and facilities.
- Portland Police Chief Bob Day published an op‑ed in The Oregonian defending the department’s 'crowd support' policing and citing a 17% reduction in violent crime since he took over.
- ICE Portland director Cammila Wamsley told reporters the Portland ICE office 'has endured more than 100 straight nights of violence,' including bottle rockets striking the building, rocks shattering windows, lasers aimed at officers' eyes, and barricades blocking vehicles.
- The article reports city leaders had ordered Portland police not to respond directly to certain federal facility incidents, while the Federal Protective Service secures the building itself—highlighting disputed jurisdiction and DOJ scrutiny of the Portland Police Bureau.