PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — Residents living near Portland’s Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility say they’ve had enough of what they describe as “violent and traumatic” tactics used by federal agents during recent protests. For many who live in the nearby Gray’s Landing apartments, the nightly clashes have made daily life unbearable.
Residents Feel Trapped in Their Own Homes
Lashawnda Shavers and Mercedes Moreno, both tenants at Gray’s Landing, shared their frustration and fear after repeated deployments of tear gas and pepper balls filled their building over the weekend.
“The violent tactics that federal agents are using, including tear gas and pepper balls, are really impacting residents’ quality of life,” Moreno told KOIN 6 News. “It’s just not OK for human beings. We all deserve to live and deserve to be here. We experience it daily — and it’s rough.”
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Shavers agreed, describing chaotic scenes inside the apartments. “It’s full of tear gas. People are coughing, choking, eyes burning. I mean, it was scary,” she said.
The Gray’s Landing complex, managed by Reach Community Development, houses mostly low-income residents — families, seniors, and individuals who can’t afford to relocate despite the worsening situation. “I can’t afford to leave,” Moreno admitted.
Caught in the Crossfire
Margaret Salazar, CEO of Reach Community Development, said residents are “living on the front lines” of an escalating conflict between protesters and federal agents.
“The residents are really caught in the crossfire,” Salazar explained. “We’ve had to install air scrubbers to try to keep the air clean inside the apartments. We’ve also asked the city to take a more proactive approach to de-escalation and to provide additional support.”
Salazar emphasized that Reach, as a nonprofit housing provider, is not equipped to manage the fallout of federal law enforcement actions. “We’re not prepared to be in the frontlines of a big escalation of federal activity,” she said. “We need to call on numerous folks for help right now.”
Escalation Outside the ICE Facility
Over the past week, federal agents have repeatedly clashed with demonstrators outside the ICE facility in South Portland. Witnesses and reporters documented tear gas clouds drifting for blocks, armed personnel on rooftops, and helicopters hovering overhead.
Footage from KOIN 6 News shows heavily armed agents confronting protesters and arresting several individuals during nighttime operations. Protesters, journalists, and nearby residents have all reported being affected by the use of tear gas and pepper balls.
City Pushes Back Against Federal Force
In response to growing community outrage, Portland City Attorney Robert Taylor sent a formal letter to the U.S. Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division on Monday. Addressed to Deputy Assistant Attorney General Jonas Geissler, the letter accuses the federal government of “failing its solemn duty” to protect citizens’ rights and condemns what Taylor called “unjustified uses of force” against peaceful demonstrators.
“The federal government is engaging in excessive force against demonstrators,” Taylor wrote. “This is a direct violation of the rights of those who disagree with the Trump administration’s policies.”
City officials say they are coordinating cleanup efforts and monitoring environmental impacts caused by repeated tear gas use in residential areas.
Residents Call for ICE Facility to Leave Neighborhood
For many residents, however, temporary fixes aren’t enough. They want the federal facility — and the disruption it brings — moved out of their community.
“I would like to see them out of the neighborhoods,” said resident Phoenix Greenman. “We’re collateral damage here. And I don’t want to be collateral damage.”
Community Voices Demand Change
The ongoing tension between protesters and federal agents has turned South Portland into a flashpoint of frustration for those who live nearby. What began as demonstrations over immigration enforcement has evolved into a broader debate about the federal government’s role in local policing — and the cost to the people who live closest to the conflict.
For residents like Shavers and Moreno, each night brings renewed anxiety. “We shouldn’t have to live like this,” Moreno said quietly. “We just want peace in our homes.”
As federal agents continue to operate outside the ICE facility, many South Portland residents are left wondering how much longer their neighborhood will remain the frontline of a battle they never chose to fight.
