PORTLAND, Ore. — Musical comedian Robby Roadsteamer, known for his eccentric performances and sharp political satire, says he was detained and charged with trespassing at Portland’s Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility earlier this week. The arrest occurred during an ongoing wave of demonstrations at the site, which has become a flashpoint for clashes between protesters and federal agents.
The Incident
In a video posted on Roadsteamer’s YouTube channel, the performer — whose real name is Rob Potylo — can be seen dressed in a giraffe costume, belting out a parody of Rod Stewart’s “Da Ya Think I’m Sexy?” while singing the altered line: “If you hate brown people and you are a Nazi.”
The clip shows Roadsteamer standing several feet behind a blue “Do Not Cross” line, which marks the boundary between public and federal property. Moments later, a group of ICE officers in military-style fatigues approach and forcibly grab him, leading him toward the facility as onlookers shout in protest.
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According to Roadsteamer, he was performing alongside the Portland Frog — a popular protest character who frequently appears at demonstrations in inflatable animal costumes — when officers began firing pepper balls into the crowd.
Fundraiser and Legal Defense
A GoFundMe page launched following the incident claims Roadsteamer had traveled to Portland “on a peacekeeping trip to heal the divide” and was detained unlawfully. The fundraiser states that ICE agents “dragged him onto their property” before charging him with trespassing.
“Robby Roadsteamer has been detained by ICE in Portland, Oregon, after a peacekeeping trip to heal the divide with the city battling ICE illegally grabbing innocent people off the streets,” the description reads. “He was singing with the Portland Frog when ICE started shooting pepper balls at him, then detained Robby.”
The campaign seeks to raise funds for Roadsteamer’s legal fees ahead of a scheduled court appearance in Portland.
Another Musician Arrested
Roadsteamer’s arrest follows the detention of clarinetist Oriana Korol, who was performing with the Unpresidented Brass Band outside the same ICE facility days earlier. Witnesses said Korol was playing the “Ghostbusters” theme when officers suddenly tackled and arrested her.
According to The Oregonian, Korol was taken to Clark County Jail and booked on suspicion of assaulting a federal officer — a charge that friends and witnesses dispute.
“Ori, our clarinet player, was pinned against this fence, with whoever they’re trying to detain at her feet, and she’s just kind of stuck,” bandmate Miles Thompson told the newspaper. “Then suddenly one of the other officers just tackled her. I didn’t see anything that warranted any kind of arrest.”
Broader Pattern of Escalation
Both incidents highlight a growing pattern of confrontations between federal officers and protesters outside Portland’s ICE facility. Demonstrations that began as peaceful acts of civil disobedience have repeatedly escalated into violent clashes, with officers accused of using excessive force and indiscriminately detaining protesters, performers, and journalists alike.
Over the past several months, dozens of protesters have been arrested at the site as local and federal authorities continue to dispute how the facility should be policed.
Political Backdrop
The arrests come amid ongoing legal battles over the Trump administration’s federal troop deployments to Oregon. The administration has defended the use of force at the ICE facility, claiming it is necessary to protect federal property. President Trump has characterized Portland as being “overrun by paid insurrectionists and antifa,” though local leaders have dismissed those claims as exaggerated.
Meanwhile, Portland officials have urged federal agencies to exercise restraint, arguing that aggressive tactics only inflame tensions and erode public trust.
As for Robby Roadsteamer, he says he intends to keep performing — even if his next show is in court. “They can take my giraffe costume,” he joked in a short post after being released, “but they can’t take my song.”
