US law enforcement quarrel with Antifa next to migrant detention center

(MENAFN) Police and protesters clashed outside a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention center in Portland, Oregon, on Friday, according to local station KOIN 6 News. The facility has been a hotspot for demonstrations in recent weeks.

Footage shared by independent journalist Katie Daviscourt showed law enforcement using tear gas, rubber bullets, and paintball rounds to disperse protesters, many of whom wore gas masks and helmets. Daviscourt described the scene as a “war zone,” noting that demonstrators attempted to set fire to the facility, prompting a swift police response.

Earlier this week, the U.S. Attorney’s Office charged four individuals in connection with previous incidents at the same location. One suspect faces arson charges.

U.S. Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche addressed the unrest in a statement posted on X, emphasizing that the Department of Justice is monitoring the situation in Portland and at another ICE facility in Prairieland, Texas. He warned that attacks on federal officers or property would be met with the full force of the law.

The renewed protests follow President Donald Trump’s recent signing of the “Big Beautiful Bill,” which has sparked widespread backlash. The legislation includes around $100 billion in funding for ICE operations, detention centers, deportations, and finalizing the U.S.-Mexico border wall—further fueling tensions in cities across the country, especially in the Pacific Northwest.

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