Portland saw large-scale demonstrations on Saturday as hundreds of protesters marched to the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Detention Facility. The protest followed President Donald Trump’s announcement of up to 200 Oregon National Guard troops being deployed to the city.
Protesters initially gathered at Elizabeth Caruthers Park before moving to the ICE facility, blocking the road in front of the building.
🚨 WTF?! Portland Police are now ACTIVELY DEFENDING Antifa militants, telling local residents they “will be ARRESTED” if they drive down Antifa-controlled streets
Residents are FED UP by this occupation.
President Trump MUST liberate Portland!
pic.twitter.com/TVmXhwUup2— Nick Sortor (@nicksortor) October 5, 2025
Federal Officers Use Tear Gas
Federal law enforcement officers responded by firing tear gas to disperse the crowd. Witnesses reported multiple canisters being launched, though the exact number remains unclear. Several protesters standing on the sidewalk outside the facility were arrested during the clashes. Tear gas continued to be deployed around 1:20 pm.
Protesters Speak Out
Participants voiced their reasons for joining the demonstration. John Jolley, a protester, said the smell of tear gas was strong upon arrival and urged others not to “take the bait,” referencing unrest in 2020.
Steve Hall, a former US Army intelligence officer, criticized the use of National Guard troops, saying local police were capable of handling the situation.
Brittanee Carr, who attended with her 5-year-old daughter, shared that she wanted to teach her child that “it’s not OK” and that people can stand peacefully for their beliefs.
Judge Blocks National Guard Deployment
A federal judge in Oregon temporarily blocked President Trump’s administration from deploying the National Guard in Portland.
US District Judge Karin Immergut, a Trump appointee, said: “The relationship between the federal government and the states, between the military and domestic law enforcement, and the balance of powers between the executive, legislative and judicial branches of government.”
She added: “Whether we choose to follow what the Constitution mandates with respect to these three relationships goes to the heart of what it means to live under the rule of law in the United States.”
Judge Immergut noted that while the president typically has “a great level of deference” to federalize National Guard troops when local law enforcement cannot enforce the law, that was not the case in Portland.
Background: Portland Protests
The Department of War placed 200 members of Oregon’s National Guard under federal control for 60 days to protect federal property in protest-heavy areas, after Trump labeled Portland “war-ravaged.”
Portland officials criticized the move as ridiculous, noting that protests at the ICE building had been largely contained to a one-block area of the city.
Since the announcement, clashes with law enforcement have occurred intermittently. On September 28, a large crowd protested, leading to two arrests for assault. Conservative influencer Nick Sortor was also arrested in a later altercation but released.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem announced additional federal agents would be sent and a Justice Department civil rights investigation would review the circumstances surrounding Sortor’s arrest and potential viewpoint discrimination by the Portland Police Bureau.
The escalation in Portland mirrors similar federal crackdowns in other US cities, including Chicago, Baltimore, and Memphis.
