Portland Mayor Demands ICE Agents Leave City After Tear Gas Incident

Thousands of protesters, including children, were met with tear gas and rubber bullets outside an ICE facility in Portland.

Feb. 1, 2026 at 8:15pm

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The mayor of Portland, Oregon, has demanded that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents leave the city after they launched tear gas at a crowd of peaceful protesters, including young children, outside an ICE facility over the weekend. The mayor condemned the federal agents' use of violence and said they have "lost all legitimacy" through their actions.

Why it matters

This incident highlights the ongoing tensions between local authorities and federal immigration enforcement agencies, as well as concerns over the use of force against protesters exercising their constitutional rights. It also comes amid a broader national debate over immigration policies and the role of federal agents in local affairs.

The details

Thousands of protesters gathered outside the ICE facility in Portland's South Waterfront on Saturday for what the mayor described as a peaceful demonstration. However, federal agents reportedly deployed tear gas, pepper balls, and rubber bullets into the crowd, which included young children in strollers. Witnesses said the scene was "terrifying" as people struggled to flee the area and seek medical attention.

  • The protest took place on Saturday, February 1, 2026.
  • Federal agents also used tear gas against protesters in Eugene, Oregon on Friday, January 31, 2026.

The players

Keith Wilson

The mayor of Portland, Oregon, who condemned the federal agents' actions and demanded that ICE leave the city.

Erin Hoover Barnett

A former OregonLive reporter who was present at the protest and described the scene as "terrifying" as federal agents deployed tear gas and other crowd control measures.

Donald Trump

The former U.S. President who instructed the Department of Homeland Security to be "very forceful" in protecting federal government property during protests.

Kristi Noem

The current Secretary of Homeland Security, who was instructed by President Trump to have federal agents be vigilant in guarding U.S. government facilities.

Alex Pretti and Renee Good

Two residents of Minneapolis who were killed by federal agents during recent protests against the Trump administration's immigration policies.

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What they’re saying

“To be among parents frantically trying to tend to little children in strollers, people using motorized carts trying to navigate as the rest of us staggered in retreat, unsure of how to get to safety, was terrifying.”

— Erin Hoover Barnett, Former OregonLive reporter

“To those who continue to work for ICE: Resign. To those who control this facility: Leave. Through your use of violence and the trampling of the Constitution, you have lost all legitimacy and replaced it with shame.”

— Keith Wilson, Mayor of Portland, Oregon

“Please be aware that I have instructed ICE and/or Border Patrol to be very forceful in this protection of Federal Government Property. There will be no spitting in the faces of our Officers, there will be no punching or kicking the headlights of our cars, and there will be no rock or brick throwing at our vehicles, or at our Patriot Warriors.”

— Donald Trump

What’s next

The mayor of Portland said the city will be imposing a fee on detention facilities that use chemical agents against protesters. The federal government will also face accountability for its actions, according to the mayor.

The takeaway

This incident highlights the ongoing tensions between local authorities and federal immigration enforcement agencies, as well as concerns over the use of force against protesters exercising their constitutional rights. It also underscores the broader national debate over immigration policies and the role of federal agents in local affairs.