Portland City Council meetings descended into chaos Wednesday evening as a protest over the city’s relationship with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) led to four arrests and a 45-minute adjournment. The disruption, described by Councilor Loretta Smith as a “mini insurrection,” highlights the ongoing tensions surrounding immigration policy and local government action in the city.
Protesters, identifying as part of a group called “Revoke the ICE Permit PDX,” voiced outrage over what they perceive as inaction by the council regarding a land-use agreement allowing ICE to operate a facility in South Portland. The demonstration unfolded roughly 20 minutes into the 6 p.m. Meeting, with participants chanting slogans like “Revoke the permit” and “Do your job City Council.” The protest stems from a long-standing dispute over the federal government’s presence in the city and concerns about the treatment of immigrants.
According to police, the situation escalated when protesters approached the councilors, prompting Council President Jamie Dunphy to call for security and a recess. Videos shared by Councilor Smith on Facebook show security personnel forcibly removing a protester from the council floor as others continued to shout and chant. Portland police spokesperson Sgt. Kevin Allen confirmed that officers responded to assist security in removing protesters who refused to leave the premises.
Protesters Demand Action on ICE Facility
The core of the protest centers on a land-use agreement dating back to 2011, which permits the federal government to operate out of a South Macadam Avenue property. Activists argue the city has the power to shut down the ICE facility and have repeatedly called on councilors to take stronger legislative action. Beatriz Ibarra, a participant in public comment, stated, “Many of you claim to stand with immigrants, and yet you do nothing to protect them.”
The city issued a land-use agreement violation notice to the landlord of the Portland ICE building in September, alleging that U.S. Immigration officials had held some detainees longer than 12 hours or overnight. However, the building’s owner requested an administrative review, and last week, Portland officials upheld the violation. The owner now has until March 16 to appeal the decision or correct the violations, according to OregonLive.
Four Arrested, Councilor Expresses Safety Concerns
Police arrested four individuals in connection with the disruption: 47-year-old Susan Anglada-Bartley of Portland; 22-year-old Cole B. Donahugh of Beaverton; 25-year-old Madison N. Del Santer of Beaverton; and 26-year-old Henry J. Roloff of Beaverton. All face misdemeanor charges of criminal trespass. Donahugh and Anglada-Bartley also face additional charges of misdemeanor disorderly conduct, OPB reports.
Councilor Smith, who declined to comment to The Oregonian/OregonLive, described the incident on Facebook as “horrible” and stated she did not feel safe during the meeting, adding that a protester “jumped over the testifying table and screamed in my face.” The incident has prompted Smith to draft an ordinance that would allow city councilors to openly carry a firearm while conducting city business, a proposal that has already drawn scrutiny given Portland’s existing gun laws.
The disruption at City Hall underscores the deep divisions within Portland regarding immigration policy and the role of local government in addressing federal actions. The city council is expected to continue discussions regarding the land-use agreement and potential responses to the ongoing protests in the coming weeks. The next checkpoint will be March 16, the deadline for the building owner to appeal the land-use violation or correct the issues.
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