The Mayor of Portland, Oregon, has publicly called on Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents to resign and vacate the city following an incident in which a young girl was exposed to tear gas during what local officials described as a peaceful daytime protest. The incident occurred during an “ICE Out” demonstration outside a federal immigration facility, intensifying an already heated national debate over immigration enforcement tactics, protest policing, and the role of federal agents in local jurisdictions.
Video footage showing the distressed child has circulated widely online, prompting sharp reactions from city and state leaders. Portland officials argue that the use of chemical agents against demonstrators, including children, represents an unjustified escalation and a violation of constitutional principles, while federal authorities maintain that agents are acting to protect government facilities amid growing unrest nationwide.
Incident at the Portland ICE Facility
The protest took place outside an ICE field office in Portland that also serves as a processing and detention center for individuals whose immigration status is under federal review. Demonstrators gathered as part of a broader movement opposing immigration enforcement policies under President Donald Trump, the current U.S. president serving a second term.
According to protesters and witnesses, federal agents deployed tear gas, pepper balls, and rubber bullets after the crowd assembled near the facility. A video posted on social media showed a preteen girl wearing a pink shirt with butterfly designs crying and struggling to recover as an adult poured water into her eyes to counter the effects of the chemical agent.
The footage, in which the girl can be heard saying “It burns,” quickly drew public attention. Witnesses described a scene of confusion and distress, with parents attempting to protect children and individuals with mobility challenges trying to move away from the affected area.
Mayor Keith Wilson’s Response
Portland Mayor Keith Wilson, a Democrat, strongly condemned the actions of federal agents, asserting that the protest was largely peaceful and posed no threat to public safety. In a public statement, Wilson called on ICE personnel to resign and demanded that the agency leave the city.
“To those who continue to work for ICE: Resign. To those who control this facility: Leave,” Wilson said. He accused the agents of “impacting a peaceful daytime protest where the vast majority of those present violated no laws, made no threat, and posed no danger to federal forces.”
Wilson further argued that the use of force undermined constitutional protections, stating that ICE had “lost all legitimacy and replaced it with shame.” He also urged agents to reflect on their actions, asking them to “go home, look in a mirror, and ask yourselves why you have gassed children.”
Proposed Local Measures and Accountability Efforts
In response to the incident, Mayor Wilson announced that the city is considering an ordinance that would impose fees on detention facilities that deploy tear gas. The proposed measure is intended to discourage the use of chemical agents and create financial accountability for their deployment.
The mayor also pledged that the city would document the actions of federal agents and preserve evidence related to the incident. According to Wilson, this documentation could be used to hold the federal government accountable through legal or legislative channels.
“Our nation will never accept a federal presence where agents wield deadly force against the very people they are sworn to serve,” Wilson said, emphasizing Portland’s long-standing commitment to civil liberties and protest rights.
State Officials and Witness Accounts
Oregon Governor Tina Kotek and Attorney General Dan Rayfield also criticized the actions of federal law enforcement. In a statement, Kotek said that “Trump’s ICE has no place in Oregon,” describing the use of tear gas against families and children as a “horrific abuse of authority” that undermines public safety and constitutional rights.
Eyewitness accounts further described chaotic conditions at the protest. Erin Hoover Barnett, a former OregonLive reporter who attended the demonstration, said she was approximately 100 yards from the building when federal agents began dispersing gas into the crowd. She likened the equipment used to “rocket launchers” and recalled parents frantically trying to assist children in strollers.
Barnett described the experience as terrifying, noting that people struggled to find safe exit routes as they retreated. The Portland Fire Bureau confirmed that paramedics were dispatched to the scene to treat individuals affected by the chemical agents.
Law Enforcement Clarifications and Ongoing Reviews
Portland police officials stated that city officers did not deploy any munitions during the protest and made no arrests. Police said they monitored the crowd and focused on maintaining public order without direct intervention.
Separately, the district attorney’s office is reviewing a case involving a man in a wheelchair who was reportedly knocked over during the protest and later taken to a hospital. Local media outlet KATU reported that the incident has been referred for further examination.
ICE has not publicly commented on the Portland incident. Opitanglobamedia News reported that it has reached out to an ICE spokesperson for an official response.
National Context and Federal Position
The Portland protest was one of several demonstrations across the United States opposing the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown. Similar protests have taken place in cities such as Minneapolis and Eugene, Oregon, where federal agents also deployed tear gas following property damage and attempts to enter federal buildings.
President Trump, addressing the broader unrest on social media, stated that local law enforcement agencies are responsible for policing protests in their cities. However, he also said he has instructed Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem to ensure that federal agents remain vigilant in protecting U.S. government facilities.
In his post, Trump warned that aggressive actions against federal officers or property would be met with equal or greater consequences. The statement underscored the administration’s position that federal agents must use force if necessary to safeguard government operations.
