Federal Officers Fire Tear Gas, Make Arrests During Portland ICE Protest—What We Know So Far

Protesters recover after gas is deployed at the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility, Portland, Ore., Oct. 4, 2025.(Alejandro Figueroa / OPB)

Portland, Ore. — October 4, 2025 - Federal agents fired tear gas and other chemical munitions into a crowd of approximately 400 protesters outside the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility in South Portland on Saturday, resulting in at least six arrests amid escalating demonstrations against the Trump administration's immigration enforcement policies.The clashes, which unfolded under gray skies near the ICE building on South Macadam Avenue, marked the latest flashpoint in a wave of nationwide unrest over mass deportations, now compounded by a federal judge's temporary block on President Donald Trump's plan to deploy National Guard troops to the city.

The protest, organized by a coalition including the Portland General Defense Committee and immigrant rights advocates, began peacefully around noon with marchers chanting "No ICE, no hate, no National Guard" and waving signs decrying "war-ravaged Portland" rhetoric from Trump's recent Quantico speech.Tensions peaked by 1:30 p.m. when demonstrators attempted to block the facility's entrance, prompting federal officers in riot gear to deploy tear gas canisters and pepper balls into the crowd, according to eyewitness videos and Portland Police Bureau updates.Three individuals were initially detained for allegedly throwing projectiles, with three more arrested shortly after for disorderly conduct and obstructing federal operations.

No serious injuries were reported, though several protesters complained of respiratory irritation from the chemicals, and the Portland Fire & Rescue treated at least four people on-site.The Portland Police Bureau, monitoring from a distance per the city's sanctuary policies, made two additional arrests unrelated to the federal action but tied to the broader demonstration.

In a related development, U.S. District Judge Michael H. Simon issued a temporary restraining order Friday evening, blocking the Trump administration's authorization of 200 National Guard troops to Portland under Title 10 authority, citing overreach of presidential powers and potential violations of state sovereignty.Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek hailed the ruling as a "vital check on federal overreach," emphasizing that local law enforcement would handle any unrest without military involvement.The White House, through Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, decried the decision as "activist judging" that endangers public safety in a city plagued by "domestic terrorists," referencing Trump's characterization of Portland as a "war zone."

The proposed deployment followed Trump's September 30 executive order establishing quick-reaction forces for civil disturbances, amid a surge in ICE operations nationwide that have led to over 15,000 arrests in the first nine months of 2025.In Portland alone, federal raids since August have detained 120 individuals, fueling weekly protests that echo the 2020 unrest but with a sharper focus on immigration.

Saturday's events recalled the summer of 2020, when unidentified federal agents clashed with Black Lives Matter demonstrators outside the Mark O. Hatfield Federal Courthouse, deploying tear gas and earning the moniker "secret police."Organizers, including PNW Youth Liberation Front spokesperson Alex Milan Tracy, linked the current actions to a broader "authoritarian playbook," warning that the government shutdown—now in its eighth day—exacerbates vulnerabilities for immigrant families reliant on programs like SNAP.

DHS Acting Secretary Kristi Noem defended the response in a statement, stating agents acted with "professional restraint" against "violent agitators" obstructing enforcement of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act's deportation quotas.The ACLU of Oregon vowed to challenge the chemical deployments in court, citing excessive force under the First Amendment.

As dusk fell, the crowd dispersed peacefully under a light rain, but organizers announced plans for a larger rally Sunday. With the restraining order set for review Monday and midterms looming, Portland's streets remain a barometer for national divides over immigration and federal power.