2 more asylum seekers arrested by ICE at Portland Immigration Courthouse

PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) – Two more asylum seekers were arrested at the Portland Immigration Courthouse on Tuesday morning, making it a total of four people detained by ICE in June.

In response, the Innovation Law Lab attorneys filed a habeas corpus petition to challenge the arrest. A federal judge also ordered that the pair not be moved out of the state of Oregon for at least two days. The attorneys said the two people have since been released from ICE custody.

Meanwhile, a steady presence of protestors has gathered outside the ICE facility

on South Macadam Avenue in Portland.

The arrests on Tuesday come roughly a week after two other arrests. A transgender woman was detained by ICE agents while seeking asylum at a Portland immigration courthouse on Monday, June 2. A few days later, a man was detained by ICE following his asylum hearing.

Both asylum seekers who were arrested last week remain detained at the Northwest Detention Center in Tacoma, Wash.

Jordan Cunnings, an attorney at Innovation Law Lab, said she’s “grateful to have the federal courts’ eye on this and the federal courts’ intervention on this first step,” but hopes more permanent measures can be done to cease the ICE detainments.

“And obviously, having them home tonight with their families is, is a huge win at this juncture. But the case will continue because their rights still have been violated. And we also want ICE to stop, stop this practice,” Cunnings said.

While the pair have been released, their cases to become legal citizens have been terminated so that process will have to start all over again, she said.

“It is alarming that ICE and the administration are disregarding the longstanding protections in place for asylum seekers in an effort to conduct mass deportations,” said Isa Peña, director of strategy at Innovation Law Lab. “Even when we have attorneys at the courthouse, ready to intervene, ICE is literally racing to grab people and disappear them from their families and communities.”

Oregon is classified as a sanctuary state and Portland as a sanctuary city, meaning their state and city law enforcement will not work with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. In response, President Donald Trump has openly criticized sanctuary states and cities, claiming their policies of not enforcing immigration law put the safety of American citizens in jeopardy.

This announcement comes as protests grow in the city of Portland and around the country against ICE raids as well as the federal government’s immigration policies. In Los Angeles, where protests have reached a fever pitch, Trump has deployed the U.S. National Guard and Marines.

Meanwhile, a group has gathered at the Portland Immigration and Customs Enforcement headquarters, camping overnight and calling for others on social media to join them in a round-the-clock protest.

KOIN 6 News has reached out to Multnomah County and ICE for comment. This story will be updated when we receive a response.

Stay with KOIN 6 News as this story develops.