Federal immigration officials report that their Portland, Oregon, facility is under siege, facing violence night after night. In an interview, Cammila Wamsley, director of Portland’s ICE office, detailed the turmoil, stating the situation has continued for over 100 consecutive nights. Portland police, directed by the mayor and city council, largely refrain from intervening, leaving federal personnel vulnerable. “I just… I can’t figure out what’s happening at the FDA. I’m totally baffled by it,” Wamsley expressed, highlighting her frustration as attacks are carried out while law enforcement inside lacks jurisdiction to act.
The nature of these nightly protests has escalated dramatically. Wamsley described a disturbing scene outside the facility, where bottle rockets and rocks have become common projectiles, shattering windows and posing a direct threat to personnel. Barricades have been erected to hinder access to the building. “There are a lot of folks that come up dressed in all black,” she explained, noting their intent to “wreak havoc.” This isn’t just protest… it’s aggression aimed at public servants.
Protesters have taken their hostility further, tracking ICE staff members to their homes and doxxing several employees. Wamsley condemned this breach of personal safety. “They’ll block our cars, throw paint, damage property, and even try to follow our folks home,” she stated. The dynamic shifts quickly, she warns, with crowd sizes capable of swelling from a mere 50 to 1,000 in just half an hour. “Sometimes we only have 20 officers here. We would not be able to defend the building with that show of force,” she said, underscoring the perilous situation federal agents face each night.
Wamsley acknowledged that the response from the Portland Police Department has been alarmingly slow, if it arrives at all. Although assaults occur regularly outside the ICE facility, officers often either do not respond or take excessive time to arrive. “That is not the stance they would take six blocks from here, but it is the stance they take with us because of guidance from the mayor and city council,” she articulated. This reflects a stark contrast in law enforcement’s priorities based on political direction.
The unrest in Portland has gained national attention, with plans for government intervention becoming more prominent. The federal response includes discussions of deploying National Guard troops to bolster security around the ICE facility. “They’re not just facing HSI,” Todd Rignel, assistant special agent for Homeland Security Investigations, remarked regarding anti-ICE groups. “They’re facing the FBI, ATF, DEA, IRS – all of these agencies,” signaling that this conflict goes beyond a local issue. He characterized these groups as a significant challenge to public order.
Despite the ongoing chaos, Wamsley affirmed the dedication of ICE staff to their mission. “The people that work here are here to serve the American public,” she said firmly. “They are here to enforce the same immigration laws we’ve had in place since the 1950s. Nothing has changed in that regard.” This commitment remains steadfast, emphasizing that despite external pressures, the agency will continue to operate as it has for decades.
The situation in Portland underlines a broader narrative in which federal law enforcement faces unprecedented hostility while trying to carry out their duties. The city’s political climate appears to have significantly impacted how local law enforcement engages with federal agents, raising concerns about safety and the rule of law. As confrontations persist, officials are left questioning the authority and effectiveness of local policies in the face of rising violence against federal employees.
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