Protests Continue Outside Portland ICE Facility

Activists block driveway, disrupt operations as federal agents respond with force

Published on Feb. 6, 2026

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Since June 2025, the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility in Portland, Oregon has seen daily protests against the government's immigration policies. Though relatively small in numbers, activists' strategy of blocking the building's driveway is an effective way to disrupt operations, and demonstrators are often met with force from federal police, who've arrested scores of people and routinely use rubber bullets and tear gas to disperse crowds.

Why it matters

The Portland ICE protests have come under increased scrutiny as the conflict has escalated, with pro-ICE counter-demonstrators emboldened by President Trump's rhetoric joining the fray and using their cameras to provoke skirmishes with protesters. The parallel battle online has turned the protests into a 'content farm' for competing narratives.

The details

When President Trump threatened to send the National Guard to Portland in September, the scenes outside ICE detention centers and other facilities came under increased scrutiny from media and politicians. By then, the protesters weren't just left-wing activists - some were pro-ICE counter-demonstrators who'd come to flag-wave and film the proceedings, using their cameras to provoke skirmishes with protesters while spinning a story of liberal lawlessness run amok. Several were even allowed to embed with federal agents, and their footage used to identify and pursue demonstrators.

  • Since June 2025, the ICE facility in Portland has seen daily protests.
  • In September 2025, President Trump threatened to send the National Guard to Portland.
  • On January 31, 2026, a coalition of over 30 labor unions organized a rally and protest march to the ICE building.

The players

Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)

The federal law enforcement agency responsible for immigration enforcement, which has been the target of the protests in Portland.

President Trump

The former U.S. president who threatened to send the National Guard to Portland in response to the protests.

Portland Fire Bureau

The local fire department that provided medical treatment to protesters after federal agents used tear gas and flash-bang grenades against the January 31st protest march.

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What they’re saying

“We must not let individuals continue to damage private property in San Francisco.”

— Robert Jenkins, San Francisco resident (San Francisco Chronicle)

The takeaway

The ongoing protests at the Portland ICE facility highlight the deep divisions over immigration policy in the U.S., with activists continuing to challenge the government's enforcement tactics while pro-ICE counter-demonstrators seek to disrupt and delegitimize the protest movement. The conflict has become a battleground for competing narratives, with both sides using media and online platforms to shape public opinion.