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Portland Mayor Orders ICE Exit, Imposes Chemical‑Agent Penalty After Tear‑Gas Assault

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  • Federal agents lobbed tear gas and flash bangs at protesters in front of the ICE building on Jan. 31, 2026, in Portland, Oregan.
    Image: Newsweek
    Federal agents lobbed tear gas and flash bangs at protesters in front of the ICE building on Jan. 31, 2026, in Portland, Oregan. Source Full size
  • None
    Image: AP
    Source Full size
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    Image: WBNS (Columbus, OH)
    Credit: WBNS-10TV Source Full size
  • A protestor is sprayed by a police officer during a “National Shutdown” protest against US Immigration and Customs Enforcement in Los Angeles on January 30, 2026.
    Image: Newsweek
    A protestor is sprayed by a police officer during a “National Shutdown” protest against US Immigration and Customs Enforcement in Los Angeles on January 30, 2026. Source Full size
  • Federal agents lobbed tear gas and flash bangs at protesters in front of the ICE building on Jan. 31, 2026, in Portland, Oregan.
    Image: Newsweek
    Federal agents lobbed tear gas and flash bangs at protesters in front of the ICE building on Jan. 31, 2026, in Portland, Oregan. Source Full size
  • A protestor is sprayed by a police officer during a “National Shutdown” protest against US Immigration and Customs Enforcement in Los Angeles on January 30, 2026.
    Image: Newsweek
    A protestor is sprayed by a police officer during a “National Shutdown” protest against US Immigration and Customs Enforcement in Los Angeles on January 30, 2026. Source Full size
  • None
    Image: AP
    Source Full size
  • None
    Image: WBNS (Columbus, OH)
    Credit: WBNS-10TV Source Full size

Mayor Wilson Demands ICE Resignation and Announces Penalty On Saturday night, Portland Mayor Keith Wilson issued a citywide proclamation ordering all ICE employees to quit and directing the agency to vacate the South Waterfront facility, citing constitutional violations and public‑safety risks. He simultaneously unveiled a municipal ordinance that will levy a financial fee on any detention center that deploys tear‑gas or similar chemical agents [1][2]. Wilson framed the fee as “accountability for sickening decisions” and pledged to document the incident for future action [4].

Federal Agents Use Tear Gas, Pepper Balls, Rubber Bullets, and Flash‑Bangs During a daytime demonstration of thousands outside the ICE field office, federal law‑enforcement officers fired tear‑gas canisters, pepper‑ball launchers, rubber‑bullet projectiles, and flash‑bang devices to disperse the crowd [2][4]. Witness Erin Hoover Barnett described agents “with rocket launchers” spraying from roughly 100 yards away, while a KGW photographer recorded flash‑bangs detonated at twenty‑minute intervals [4]. The Portland Fire Bureau dispatched paramedics and an ambulance to treat exposed protesters [2][4].

Protest Remains Largely Peaceful, No Arrests Recorded City officials and the Portland Police Bureau characterized the march as peaceful, noting that the majority of participants broke no laws and that police limited their role to crowd monitoring [2][4]. No arrests were made during the February 1 protest, although the department reported 86 ICE‑related arrests citywide since June [1]. Thousands of demonstrators, organized by more than two dozen labor unions, marched from Elizabeth Caruthers Park to the ICE building, honoring victims Alex Pretti and Renée Good [4].

State Leaders Condemn Federal Crowd‑Control Tactics; Trump Calls for Forceful Protection Oregon Governor Tina Kotek denounced the “indiscriminate and unlawful” use of chemical agents, pledging to protect immigrants and communities of color [4]. President Donald Trump responded on Truth Social, instructing ICE and Border Patrol to be “very forceful” in guarding federal property and warning of “equal, or more, consequence” for attacks on officers [1][2][3]. Portland officials have requested clarification from the Department of Homeland Security regarding the agents’ deployment of tear‑gas and related munitions [2].

Sources

Timeline

Early Jan 2026 – An ICE agent shoots and kills 37‑year‑old Renee Good in Minneapolis; the Department of Homeland Security states the agent “feared for his life and acted in self‑defense”[5]. The incident joins the earlier killing of ICU nurse Alex Pretti, fueling accusations of excessive federal force[3].

Jan 8, 2026 – Columbus activists hold an emergency protest outside the Ohio Statehouse and a candlelight vigil at City Hall, with more than 150 people chanting “ICE out” and pledging “to keep mobilizing until ICE is forced out”[13].

Jan 10, 2026 – DHS posts a video on social media that shows the moments just before Good’s fatal shooting, ending moments before the gunfire and sparking intense scrutiny of the agents’ actions[2].

Jan 10, 2026 – Thousands march from Powderhorn Park in Minneapolis, demanding accountability for the ICE shooting; Mayor Jacob Frey condemns the agency as “reckless” and warns “agitators will be arrested”[9].

Jan 10, 2026 – Democratic Representatives Ilhan Omar, Angie Craig and Kelly Morrison briefly enter the Bishop Henry Whipple Federal Building for oversight, then are ordered to leave after ten minutes, citing concerns about federal law violations[2].

Jan 10, 2026 – About 200 protesters gather outside Portland’s ICE building after a Border Patrol shooting; one man is arrested for pushing an officer, illustrating rising tensions[15].

Jan 10‑11, 2026 – Organizers announce more than 1,000 demonstrations nationwide, targeting ICE facilities in cities such as Los Angeles, Washington DC and Austin, as part of a coordinated “ICE‑out” weekend[2][7].

Jan 11, 2026 – A Friday‑night protest outside a Minneapolis hotel turns violent, with protesters throwing ice, snow and rocks, injuring an officer and resulting in 29 citations[9].

Jan 12, 2026 – The Villages Democratic Club and Villagers 4 Democracy schedule a Monday rally in the Florida retirement community, linking the local protest to the Minneapolis shooting and highlighting the area’s history of Trump‑leaning politics[5].

Jan 15, 2026 – Columbus hosts a “noise demonstration” of about 50 participants using whistles and cowbells; DHS reiterates that the ICE agent acted in self‑defense, while police monitor the event to ensure it stays peaceful[11].

Jan 31, 2026 – President Donald Trump posts on Truth Social that ICE, Border Patrol and, if needed, the military will protect federal property “very forcefully” and that anyone attacking officers will face “equal or more consequence”[4].

Jan 31, 2026 – Hundreds gather at Los Angeles’ Metropolitan Detention Center; LAPD deploys tear gas, declares an unlawful assembly and detains at least two dozen protesters, following Trump’s warning the day before[4].

Feb 1, 2026 – Federal agents fire tear‑gas, pepper‑balls and flash‑bangs at a Portland ICE field office, forcing thousands of demonstrators back toward Elizabeth Caruthers Park; Governor Tina Kotek condemns the “indiscriminate and unlawful” chemical attack[14].

Feb 2, 2026 – Portland Mayor Keith Wilson issues a Saturday‑night statement demanding ICE staff resign and the agency vacate the city, accusing federal officials of “trampling the Constitution” and announcing a city fee on detention facilities that use chemical agents[3][6].

Feb 2, 2026 – Portland officials send a request to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security seeking details about the tear‑gas deployment, emphasizing the need for accountability and transparency[6].

Early 2026 (future) – Advocates warn that the upcoming termination of Haitian Temporary Protected Status in central Ohio could trigger heightened ICE activity, adding urgency to the anti‑ICE campaign[10].

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