Increased federal presence at ICE facility in Portland prompts emergency press conference

PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — After seeing increased signs of federal presence at the Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility in Portland, multiple public officials held an emergency press conference.

The event took place at Westminster Presbyterian Church and featured Portland Mayor Keith Wilson, Senator Jeff Merkley, Rep. Maxine Dexter and others.

“We now have a sudden influx of federal agents in our city. We did not ask for them to come,” Wilson said. “If the federal government isn’t here to lend us a hand, take a hike…It’s just a big show.”

“The president has sent agents here to create chaos and riots in Portland,” Merkley added. “(Trump) wants to induce a violent exchange. Let’s not grant him that wish…Say no to an authoritarian president.”

Pastor J.W. Matt Hennesee, Pastor Mark Knutson, Portland Metro Chamber Chair Michael Liu, Portland City Council President Elana Pirtle-Guiney, Multnomah County Board Chair Jessica Vega Pederson and Jessica Maravilla of the ACLU Oregon were also in attendance at the press conference, organized within an hour’s notice.

The press conference comes amid reports of more federal agents seen in Portland, including some reportedly driving through the streets of downtown.

“Trump wants us divided and distracted from his failure to govern,” Dexter said. “Anyone who uses this horrific show of force as an excuse to hurt people or damage our home does not have this community’s best interest at heart…We will not escalate.”

Earlier Friday, Oregon lawmakers also sounded the alarm for what they said is the alleged mistreatment of detainees at the Portland ICE facility in a separate press event attended by some of the same leaders.

Midway through the press conference, someone in the crowd could be heard saying, “They are going to escalate anyway. The protest has always been peaceful, but they tackled a pregnant woman…they have caused three miscarriages in the apartment building from the (ICE) facility from their poisonous gas.”

At the end of the presser, a couple of people in the crowd began yelling at officials.

“I have been emailing you for months. When are you going to step up?” one protester said.

KOIN 6 News reached out to the Department of Homeland Security to ask whether they could confirm more federal agents had arrived in Portland. We have not heard back yet.

The entire press conference can be viewed in the video player below.