Violent clashes erupted between protesters and law enforcement outside a US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention center in Portland, Oregon, on Saturday. The demonstrations were part of a larger nationwide movement against President Donald Trump’s immigration policies and the deployment of the National Guard.
According to reports, hundreds of protesters gathered in front of the detention facility, blocking the road and prompting federal agents to use tear gas, smoke canisters, and pepper balls to disperse the crowd. At least seven people were arrested, with two later released. Portland police reported two additional detentions, including one individual found with a can of chemical spray and a collapsible metal baton.
The unrest in Portland coincided with a federal judge’s decision to block the National Guard deployment in the city, pending further arguments in a lawsuit filed by the state and city. Meanwhile, in Chicago, President Trump authorized the dispatch of National Guardsmen, resulting in a confrontation where agents were reportedly rammed and “boxed in” by multiple vehicles. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) stated that agents shot and wounded a female driver who was armed.
Later that day, a protest outside an ICE processing facility in Broadview, near Chicago, also turned violent, with several arrests made. The events highlight the escalating tensions surrounding the US government’s immigration policies and the deployment of National Guard troops to support law enforcement. As the situation continues to unfold, concerns about public safety and the protection of individual rights remain at the forefront.
