Portland, Oregon, announced last Wednesday its intention to issue a land use violation notice to the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) building, accusing the facility of exceeding the limits established by its land use approval. This decision marks a significant move in the city’s ongoing scrutiny of ICE operations.
The conditional land use approval for the ICE facility has been in effect since 2011 and explicitly prohibits the overnight detention of individuals or holding them for more than 12 hours. However, city officials allege that this provision has been breached at least 25 times over a 10-month span, from last October through mid-July.
“U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement made specific commitments regarding detention limitations to our community, and we believe they have violated those policies more than two dozen times,” stated Portland Mayor Keith Wilson in a news release. “I commend our team for conducting a thorough and thoughtful investigation, allowing us to refer the issue to the next steps in the land use violation process.”
The city plans to officially issue the notice on Thursday, which will also address a second violation related to boarded-up windows at the facility. As of now, ICE has not responded to requests for comment regarding these allegations.
The building has increasingly become a hotspot for protests, particularly in recent months. Demonstrations reached a peak in June, with smaller gatherings and clashes continuing to occur since then. During the daytime, immigration and legal advocates congregate outside the facility to provide assistance to those arriving, while at night, protests are often marked by participants dressed in black, donning helmets or masks.
This ongoing tension highlights the broader national debate surrounding immigration enforcement and the treatment of detainees. Portland’s actions reflect a growing concern among local officials and community members about the practices of federal immigration agencies and their impact on the community. As the situation unfolds, many are watching closely to see how both the city and ICE will respond to these allegations and the surrounding public outcry.
