PORTLAND, Ore. — City officials announced this week that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) will be issued a land use violation for its operation of a detention facility in Portland, citing repeated breaches of occupancy rules.
City’s Findings
According to Mayor Keith Wilson, ICE committed to clear detention limits when seeking approval to use the site. Those agreements, he said, have now been broken dozens of times.
“U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement made clear detention limitation commitments to our community, and we believe they broke those policies more than two dozen times,” Wilson stated.
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An investigation by the city revealed that the building’s conditional use approval specifically prohibits overnight stays or detentions longer than 12 hours. City records show that ICE allegedly violated those rules 25 times between October 2024 and July 2025, including instances where detainees were kept well beyond the permitted limit.
Officials also cited concerns about boarded-up windows at the site, which they said further pointed to improper use of the facility.
Complaints Sparked Investigation
The city launched its inquiry in July 2025 after receiving multiple formal complaints from community members and local organizations. Residents raised alarms about the possibility of prolonged detentions at the facility, arguing that ICE’s actions undermined the conditions of the building’s approval and eroded public trust.
Following the complaints, inspectors reviewed the property and interviewed individuals connected with its use. The findings confirmed patterns of noncompliance that city officials described as unacceptable.
Regulatory Action
Portland’s Bureau of Development Services is preparing to issue a formal land use violation notice to ICE. Once delivered, the notice will outline the violations and require ICE to bring its operations back into compliance.
If ICE fails to respond adequately, the city could pursue additional enforcement measures, which may include fines or restrictions on the facility’s operations.
Community and Political Response
The detention center has long been a point of controversy in Portland, a city known for its opposition to federal immigration enforcement practices. Local leaders and advocacy groups have criticized ICE for what they see as heavy-handed tactics and a lack of transparency.
The revelation of repeated violations has renewed calls for greater oversight. Advocates argue that the violations are not just bureaucratic missteps but reflect deeper issues with immigration enforcement in Portland.
City officials emphasized that the enforcement action is not about broader immigration policy but about ensuring that land use regulations are respected. “This is about holding all institutions accountable,” Wilson said. “If any other entity violated land use rules this many times, we would act — ICE should be no different.”
What’s Next
ICE has not yet issued a public response to the city’s announcement. The agency will have the opportunity to contest the findings or work with the city to correct the violations.
For Portland residents, the move represents a significant step toward local accountability, even in the face of federal operations. Whether ICE adjusts its practices or challenges the violation remains to be seen, but city officials say they are prepared to follow through with enforcement.
