PORTLAND, Ore. (KATU) — The arrest of a Portland clarinet player during a protest outside the city’s Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility on Sunday has raised alarm among supporters and civil rights advocates, who say she was unjustly detained while performing with her band to help calm tensions.
Musician Detained Across State Lines
The musician, identified as Oriana Korol, was arrested near the South Portland ICE processing facility while performing alongside her bandmates during a demonstration. Jail records show she is currently being held at Clark County Jail in Washington—across the Columbia River—though no charges have yet been formally listed.
Korol’s partner, who requested anonymity, told KATU that the arrest has left family and friends confused and deeply concerned.
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“She has been detained across state lines; she’s been detained for almost two days now—almost 48 hours,” he said. “We don’t even know why she was arrested or why she was taken to jail in another state.”
Questions Over Federal Custody
When contacted by KATU, Clark County Jail officials confirmed that Korol had been booked on suspicion of assaulting a federal officer, but they did not explain why she was transferred to a Washington facility instead of remaining in Oregon. The official jail roster still does not list her formal charges.
Mike Thompson, the leader of Korol’s band, said the delay in her release has raised additional red flags.
“We know that Monday was a federal holiday, so no arraignments were being held,” Thompson said. “But the fact that she hasn’t been released by Tuesday is really concerning.”
Band’s Role in De-Escalating Protests
Thompson said the group had gathered at the ICE facility to use music as a tool for peace and de-escalation during ongoing demonstrations.
“Our goal was to bring energy down, not up,” he said. “We’ve seen it de-escalate violent situations a few different times. I’ve definitely seen people stop breaking windows and start dancing instead.”
Witnesses say the group was performing across the street from the ICE building when federal officers suddenly moved toward protesters.
Video Shows Confusing Scene
A video circulating on social media shows a woman wearing a neon green jacket, confirmed by friends to be Korol, standing near a fence as chaos unfolds. The footage is shaky, and the moments leading up to the clip remain unclear.
Thompson described what he saw in the moments before the arrest.
“Out of the corner of my eye, I saw someone running, and then a federal officer chasing after them,” he said. “By the time I turned around, that person had been tackled to the ground, and there was an officer on top of them. It was happening right at Oriana’s feet, and she was kind of pinned against the fence.”
He said it was unclear whether Korol was intentionally involved in the scuffle or simply caught in the chaos.
Growing Public Outcry
Korol’s detention comes amid heightened tensions at Portland’s ICE facility, where protests and clashes with federal officers have become increasingly frequent following the federal government’s renewed immigration crackdowns.
Friends and fellow musicians are calling for her immediate release and demanding transparency about her transfer and charges. Online, supporters have begun organizing under hashtags like #FreeOriana and #MusicIsNotACrime, urging local leaders to intervene.
Civil rights groups have also begun reviewing the case. “If a peaceful musician performing across the street is tackled or detained without cause, that raises serious constitutional questions,” said a spokesperson for the Portland Civil Liberties Union.
Awaiting Answers
As of Tuesday evening, Korol remained in custody. Her attorney and family members are awaiting confirmation of a court date and clarification on whether she will face state or federal charges.
For now, her friends say they are holding onto hope that she will be released soon.
“Oriana was out there trying to bring peace,” Thompson said. “She plays clarinet to calm people, not to confront them. To see her treated this way is heartbreaking.”
