PORTLAND, Ore. — A video released by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) on Sunday has gone viral, showing a handcuffed protester being wheeled away on a flatbed cart during recent unrest near the Portland ICE facility.
The 15-second clip, shared on ICE’s official social media account, shows a man in a black hoodie and orange backpack, sitting on a small metal cart with his hands restrained behind his back. As agents roll him across the pavement, the suspect spits on the ground. The agency captioned the post:
“PORTLAND — Refuse to walk? We’ll give you a ride.”
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The footage quickly sparked reactions across social media — some finding humor in the unusual transport, others criticizing what they viewed as excessive or mocking behavior by federal agents.
The Incident
According to ICE officials, the encounter took place during ongoing clashes between Antifa-aligned protesters and federal law enforcement outside the agency’s South Portland facility. Demonstrations in the area have intensified following President Donald Trump’s renewed calls for federal protection of immigration offices nationwide.
The video surfaced just days after a federal judge blocked Trump’s plan to deploy National Guard troops from several states to Oregon and California, citing concerns about blurred lines between civil and military authority. Despite that ruling, federal officers have continued operations around the Portland facility to control crowds and protect property.
Federal and State Tensions
The protests near the ICE building have once again exposed deep tensions between state and federal officials. Oregon Governor Tina Kotek rejected the federal government’s offer of additional military assistance, stating, “There is no insurrection,” and affirming that local agencies were managing the situation.
Meanwhile, the Trump administration has maintained that Antifa and affiliated groups have been deliberately targeting federal buildings, using violence and property damage to provoke confrontations. Texas Governor Greg Abbott announced that his state would send 400 National Guard members to assist federal security efforts, even as other states pushed back against such deployments.
Legal Battles Intensify
The federal court’s restraining order — issued by Judge Karin Immergut — temporarily barred Trump from mobilizing National Guard units from any state to Portland. In her ruling, Immergut wrote that the move risked “erasing the line between civil and military power.” The Department of Justice has since filed an appeal with the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, seeking to overturn the decision.
In the meantime, federal police in Portland have resumed direct arrests of protesters near the ICE facility. Videos posted by independent journalists, including Katie Daviscourt of The Post Millennial, show agents dispersing crowds and detaining individuals who refused to leave the area.
Public Reaction and Online Debate
The ICE video of the suspect on the cart quickly drew widespread commentary online. Some users mocked the scene, dubbing it “Cartifa,” while others compared it to a Home Depot ad for flatbed carts. One user captioned their repost: “Taking out the trash.”
Critics, however, accused ICE of mocking detainees and escalating public tension through social media theatrics. Civil rights advocates argued that the post trivialized the treatment of arrested individuals, especially during a period of heightened political unrest.
Context of Ongoing Protests
For weeks, Portland has been the epicenter of renewed protests over immigration enforcement and federal policing tactics. Demonstrations outside the ICE facility have led to multiple arrests, property damage, and injuries — including reports of tear gas and pepper balls impacting nearby residents.
The agency’s decision to post the video appears to reflect its hardline messaging in the face of continued dissent. As one ICE spokesperson stated, “Federal officers will continue to enforce the law and protect federal property — no matter how creative resistance becomes.”
While the video generated both laughter and outrage, it also highlighted the surreal reality of Portland’s ongoing conflict — where a simple flatbed cart has now become a viral symbol of the nation’s broader political divide.
