‘I Can Taste the Tear Gas’: Life Across the Street From Portland’s ICE Facility

Tyler Francke

Canby News

‘I Can Taste the Tear Gas’: Life Across the Street From Portland’s ICE Facility

PORTLAND, Ore. — For residents living in the apartment building across from Portland’s federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility, the nightly protests outside have turned their homes into an unrelenting front line.

What was once a quiet neighborhood along South Moody Avenue has become a nightly scene of shouting, tear gas, and flashing lights. From her balcony just 200 feet away, Mindan “Minnie” Ocon watches it all unfold.

Known among protesters as “The Balcony Lady,” Ocon has become both a witness and an advocate — livestreaming the events, confronting federal agents with her megaphone, and calling out what she views as injustices.

“I don’t like ugly souls,” she said. “I don’t like racists. Why are you so hateful toward someone that has a different skin tone? At the end of the day, we all bleed red.”


A Front-Row Seat to Unrest

When Ocon moved into the apartment two years ago, she says the area was peaceful — kids played at the nearby Cottonwood School of Civics and Science, and evenings were quiet. But that calm shattered as protests outside the ICE building intensified in early 2025.

Today, Ocon tucks her 3-year-old daughter into bed to the sound of flash bangs and the thrum of helicopters. Tear gas and pepper spray often drift into her home.

“I can taste it,” she said. “I threw up brown stomach acid. I lost 25 pounds. I’m still shedding hair.”

Ocon says she’s been directly hit by chemical agents and even shot at by officers. Doctors have warned her not to let her daughter onto their balcony, as exposure to the gases could be harmful.


Toxic Living Conditions

Ocon isn’t the only resident suffering. Neighbors say tear gas seeps through vents, stinging their eyes and throats. Some have moved to apartments on the far side of the building to escape the fumes, while others have left altogether.

In July, Ocon’s daughter was treated by a pediatric specialist for eye irritation, which doctors linked to chemical exposure from the protests. The child’s doctor later wrote to ICE officials warning that prolonged exposure could have long-term effects on her development.

“Safe access to fresh air and outdoor activities is essential for child development,” the doctor wrote. “Our patient currently does not have access to this necessity.”


Caught Between Protesters and Federal Agents

The apartment complex is managed by Reach Community Development, a nonprofit that oversees affordable housing units across the Portland area. CEO Margaret Salazar said the organization has had to hire private security to protect residents and keep federal agents from entering the building.

“We’ve seen nearly every night ICE using chemical agents and firing them directly at our building,” Salazar said. “It’s not intentional, but we’re the backdrop to this activity.”

Salazar said debris from pepper balls and tear gas canisters routinely litter the building’s entrances. “The feds are littering these toxic weapons at our front door,” she said. “They need to clean this up. This is where we live.”


Divided Neighbors, Shared Exhaustion

Not everyone in the building agrees with Ocon’s activism. Some residents blame protesters for the disruption and have even sought to have her evicted, accusing her of escalating tensions.

Ocon disagrees. “I live here. They don’t,” she said. “They drive here just to cause trouble. Most of the protesters who come here are peaceful. It’s the federal agents and counterprotesters who make it worse.”

Despite the division, all share one experience — exhaustion. Many residents stay up until after midnight listening to sirens and shouts, only to rise hours later and try to resume normal life.


A Balcony That Sees Everything

Ocon’s balcony has made her both a chronicler and a target. Her nightly livestreams are watched by thousands, and she’s often the first to report developments, such as the arrival of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem. But her visibility has drawn harassment from right-wing activists, who shout insults from the street below and accuse her of being “Antifa.”

Even so, Ocon says she won’t stop speaking out. She still cooks food for protesters each afternoon and believes that standing up for her community matters — even if it comes at a cost.

“That balcony literally captures everything,” she said. “I know everything is scary right now, but if we don’t stand up and use our voices in the right way, I don’t know what’s gonna happen.”

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