PORTLAND, Ore. — Oregon’s congressional Democrats are demanding federal accountability over the treatment of immigrants and protesters at the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility located just south of downtown Portland.
The facility has become a flashpoint in recent months amid President Donald Trump’s plans to deploy National Guard troops to Portland, citing unrest around the site. Oregon lawmakers argue that the situation reflects systemic failures in oversight and human rights protections.
Concerns Over Detentions and Federal Tactics
According to city officials, ICE may be violating its city permit agreement by detaining individuals longer than the allowed 12-hour limit. Records show that people were allegedly kept overnight at least 25 times between October 2024 and July 2025 — prompting formal warnings from the city.
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The facility has also drawn attention for its handling of ongoing protests. Demonstrations outside the site have been largely peaceful since June, though federal officers have repeatedly used pepper bullets and tear gas to disperse crowds, including residents and bystanders caught in the area.
U.S. Representatives Suzanne Bonamici and Maxine Dexter, along with Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley, visited the ICE facility on Sept. 25 to assess conditions firsthand. In a joint statement afterward, the lawmakers said they were “deeply concerned by the lack of oversight and accountability of ICE agents, including those operating out of the Macadam facility.”
Three Letters, One Message: Oversight and Transparency
Following their visit, the four lawmakers sent three letters Wednesday to Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi, and Erik Johnson, deputy field office director of enforcement and removal operations in Seattle.
Their inquiries sought clarity on several issues:
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Use of chemical agents like pepper bullets and tear gas on demonstrators.
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Allegations of prolonged detentions and denial of legal counsel to immigrants.
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Accountability standards for unidentified ICE officers wearing masks and lacking name tags.
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Reports of immigrants with medical conditions being deported without due process.
Only their letter to Noem included a response deadline — October 22.
So far, the Department of Homeland Security has not responded to media requests for comment. The Attorney General’s office issued an automated message citing limited operations due to the ongoing federal funding lapse.
Clashes With Kristi Noem and Federal Leadership
The lawmakers’ letters came days after Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem made an unannounced visit to the Portland ICE facility. During the trip, Noem called Governor Tina Kotek, Mayor Keith Wilson, and Police Chief Bob Day “a bunch of pansies” on national television, accusing them of failing to secure the city.
She also threatened to quadruple the number of federal officers in Portland unless the mayor met her demands for a new security perimeter, an increased police presence, and the creation of restricted “free speech zones” for protesters.
Mayor Wilson later said he had boosted local police patrols but refused to impose protest boundaries, arguing that they would violate constitutional rights.
At a White House roundtable on antifa the following day, Noem accused Oregon leaders of “covering up terrorism on their streets.”
Lawmakers Seek Clarity on Federal Force and Immigrant Rights
In their letter to Noem, Oregon’s delegation condemned the recent escalation of force by federal agents, saying that pepper bullets and tear gas were deployed “without provocation”, placing both protesters and nearby residents in danger. They requested detailed information about what crowd-control weapons are being used and under what circumstances officers are authorized to deploy them.
The lawmakers also asked whether federal officers were coordinating with local businesses and residents to mitigate the effects of lingering tear gas in surrounding neighborhoods.
In their letter to ICE official Erik Johnson, they raised alarms about reports of immigrants with legal status being detained, denied bond, and held for “excessive periods” before hearings. They also questioned ICE’s hiring difficulties for a community relations liaison, a position meant to bridge communication with the public.
Finally, in their letter to Attorney General Bondi, the Democrats sought clarification on whether immigrants are being denied legal counsel and if requests for virtual immigration hearings are being honored.
Federal Silence, Local Pressure
As of Thursday, none of the three federal offices had issued formal responses. The lack of communication, Oregon’s congressional Democrats said, underscores a broader problem of “federal opacity and disregard for civil rights.”
The letters follow mounting public scrutiny of the Portland ICE facility — now a symbol of federal tension, local defiance, and political polarization.
“We’re asking for facts, not politics,” Wyden said in a statement. “Oregonians deserve transparency about what’s happening on their streets and to their neighbors.”
