PORTLAND, Ore. — Members of Oregon’s Democratic congressional delegation sharply criticized federal tactics outside Portland’s U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility, citing documented cases of excessive force against nonviolent protesters. The lawmakers held a press conference Friday after touring the South Portland detention site earlier in the week.
Lawmakers Press for Answers
On Thursday, Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden joined Representatives Suzanne Bonamici, Maxine Dexter, and Andrea Salinas at the ICE facility to question officials about their detention practices. Portland recently cited the facility for holding detainees longer than 12 hours on at least 25 occasions — a potential violation of its land-use permit.
The delegation pressed ICE on broader concerns, including detainees’ access to attorneys, health care, and transparency around enforcement. But lawmakers said they were left dissatisfied.
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“We asked about enforcement tactics, we asked about access to counsel, we asked about access to health care,” Bonamici said. “And I will tell you that I am not at all satisfied with the answers and the evasion that we got.”
Reports of Excessive Force
The press conference followed reporting by The Oregonian/OregonLive, which documented incidents of federal officers using force against nonviolent protesters outside the ICE building. One officer was captured on video repeatedly striking a demonstrator with a shield before shoving a woman to the ground.
Mayor Keith Wilson immediately called the actions “deeply troubling” and urged the Department of Homeland Security to launch an investigation.
Sen. Merkley said ICE officials attempted to distance themselves from the violence, telling him the officers involved were from the Federal Protective Service, not ICE. That explanation, Merkley argued, did not absolve ICE of responsibility.
“You have the building. Shouldn’t you be weighing in and saying that there is a red line in which you never attack peaceful protesters?” Merkley said. “We have here in the United States a Constitution. That Constitution envisions freedom of assembly, it envisions freedom of speech.”
Portland Police Echo Concerns
The lawmakers also pointed to testimony from Portland Police Bureau officials, who suggested that federal officers themselves were helping escalate tensions. Assistant Chief Craig Dobson testified in court that federal agents had been “instigating and causing some of the ruckus” during the protests.
“Even the Portland Police is raising concerns about what is happening here in Portland with the excessive use of force,” Bonamici said. “This is unacceptable.”
Immigrant Rights Groups Join Criticism
Advocates including the ACLU of Oregon, the Portland Immigrant Rights Coalition, and the Clear Clinic joined the lawmakers at the press conference. They argued that federal tactics are undermining constitutional protections and intimidating communities.
Speakers also expressed concern that detainees were being denied meaningful access to legal representation, raising broader questions about due process.
Push for Federal Accountability
The delegation linked the federal response in Portland to President Donald Trump’s broader threats to crack down on protests nationwide. Lawmakers said such rhetoric, paired with aggressive tactics on the ground, threatens democratic freedoms.
In response, they touted federal legislation that would require law enforcement officers to wear visible identification and limit the use of unmarked vehicles to legitimate undercover operations.
The bill, they argued, would help restore accountability and public trust.
Looking Ahead
Though the visit to the ICE facility raised more questions than answers, Oregon’s Democratic leaders pledged to keep pressing federal agencies for transparency. They emphasized that public safety cannot come at the expense of constitutional rights.
As protests continue outside the South Portland ICE facility, the lawmakers said they remain committed to monitoring the situation — and to demanding accountability from the federal government.
