Portland, OR – On Tuesday, October 13, organizers with Portland Contra Las Deportaciones (PDXCD) rallied to oppose the recent surge of ICE detentions in the Portland area and demand justice for Oscar Bergal, shot by ICE in New York just days prior.

Bergal is one of 39 or more people shot by immigration agents during the second Trump administration, including Portlanders Luis David Nino-Moncado and Yorlenys Betzabeth Zambrano-Contreras, who Customs and Border Patrol targeted and shot in January of 2026.

Just this week, between October 6 and 10, 48 ICE detainments in Oregon were reported to a hotline, meaning the actual number of detainments is much higher. This is more than double the average number of detentions per week in the prior months.

This comes after a DHS announcement of a surge of ICE activity in sanctuary cities like Portland.

PDXCD speaker Cass Cano spoke at the anti-ICE rally: “Immigration status should not be a death sentence. Our people are under attack, and we will not back down. We have to stand up to Trump and keep fighting ICE until we have won legalization for all, an end to the deportations, and ICE out of everywhere.”

Protesters chanted “ICE out of Portland!” “Killer ICE off our streets!” and “Revoke the permit!” to demand that local officials take action to shut down the detention facility in Portland, which is a key instrument of ICE’s operations in the area.

Despite the growing support for the campaign to revoke the permit, Portland city councilors and some “progressive” forces argue that the facility, leased to ICE by wealthy landowner Stuart Lindquist, should remain open so when immigrants are detained for processing, lawyers can get in contact before they are moved to the Northwest Detention Center in Tacoma.

However, a recent congressional oversight visit to the Portland ICE facility revealed immigration agents are no longer using the facility for processing. Instead, they are deploying all agents to the field to grab people off the streets and sending them straight to the Northwest Detention Center by “processing” detainees in the field.

These findings, along with the recent upsurge in abductions, negate the crumbling assertion that the Portland detention camp benefits immigrants by providing detainees an opportunity for legal intervention prior to transfer – a long-empty argument that city officials continue to hide behind.

Cami Saunders of PDXCD noted the contradiction in the “progressive” rhetoric against revoking the permit, stating, “We don’t want or need a concentration camp in Portland, and it’s time for our elected officials to stop pretending like we do. What we actually need is for our legislators to stop siding with Trump and protecting ICE.”

The embattled ICE facility heads back to court November 20, as landlord Stuart Lindquist challenges a land use violation for holding detainees over a 12-hour limit in court. PDXCD is calling on Judge Steffan Alexander to strike down the case.

#PortlandOR #OR #ImmigrantRights #ICE #Featured

Portland, OR – On October 5, pro-Palestine activists disrupted a debate involving Marie Gluesenkamp Perez, the incumbent for Washington’s 3rd Congressional District. They confronted her over her lack of action on behalf of her constituent, Tareq Zakarneh. Zakarneh is a Palestinian man from the West Bank, currently held in ICE detention – he faces deportation to Israel’s ongoing genocide.

“It is unfortunately unsurprising Gluesenkamp Perez is unwilling to take action for Zakarneh,” said pro-Palestine activist Kacey Desantis, “she voted numerous times to provide arms and funds to Israel as it carries out genocide against Palestinians. Now, one of her constituents is being deported to the genocide she supports.”

The disruption was put on by local organization Portland for Palestine. One of its members stood up and questioned why Gluesenkamp Perez had taken no action. Police immediately escorted the protester out. Gluesenkamp Perez then stated that she required a signed privacy release form before intervening in Zakarneh’s case.

Gluesenkamp Perez claimed her office had not received the document until “very recently.” However, her office had possessed the form since September 9, almost a month before her remarks.

In light of this factual inconsistency, Portland for Palestine followed up with the congresswoman on October 7 as she left a televised debate. The group asked about the discrepancy and once again asked if she intended to act on Zakarneh’s behalf. They also questioned her continued support for Israel’s crimes.

Portland for Palestine first raised Zakarneh’s case with Gluesenkamp Perez at a campaign event on August 15. During that encounter, she and her staff first mentioned the need for a signed privacy release form. On August 28, the group delivered a letter to her office in Vancouver, Washington, demanding that she act. The office was locked, forcing activists to communicate with a single staffer by intercom. The staffer called the police at one point before finally allowing a member of Portland for Palestine inside to deliver the letter.

As Portland for Palestine increased its pressure on the congresswoman ahead of the October 7 event, in a brazen attempt to shirk responsibility, her staff went so far as to claim that Zakarneh was not even one of her constituents. Even the Department of Homeland Security’s own legal documents acknowledge Zakarneh lived in Gluesenkamp Perez’s district when he was detained.

According to Track AIPAC, Gluesenkamp Perez has received over $500,000 from pro-Israel political action committees. Beyond repeatedly voting to fund Israel’s military, she was one of 22 Democrats who joined Republicans to censure Representative Rashida Tlaib for allegedly “promoting false narratives” regarding the defiant act of resistance undertaken by the people of Gaza on October 7, 2023.

The U.S. currently has a policy of deporting Palestinians to Israel, as the U.S. government does not recognize Palestinian statehood.

Zakarneh spoke out about the fate he faces if deported to Israel: “Israeli authorities will target me directly because they are well-informed by the U.S. authorities I have been falsely categorized.” Zakarneh states that Israel has incorrectly labeled him as a member of Hamas, and says, “I will be arrested, I will be tortured. Israel will imprison me as long as they can. This is well known in the West Bank.”

Portland for Palestine continues to advocate for Zakarneh’s release from ICE detention, and for an end to the genocide in Palestine.

#PortlandOR #OR #AntiWarMovement #Palestine #ImmigrantRights

Portland, OR – On October 7, around 150 people rallied and marched in downtown Portland to demand an end to the genocide of Palestine, an end to the war on Iran, and to stop the attacks on Lebanon. Portland for Palestine organized the protest following the call to action from the Anti-War Action Network.

The rally started at Terry Schrunk Plaza , where Mutaz Alshawa, one of the founders of Portland for Palestine, told the crowd, “For us as Palestinians, the Zionists’ violence against us did not start on October 7, the occupation has been going on for almost 100 years.”

Alshawa continued, “We must take a stand. We must be strong. If you idle, if you do not take a side, you are a part of it. Our tax money is funding this. We are being affected here every day in America.”

Dan Shea from Veteran for Peace stated, “These are clear demands: Stop the genocide! End U.S. aid to Israel! No war on Iran! Hands off Lebanon!” Shea encouraged attendees at this protest to attend the upcoming No Kings: Vote Early protest on October 17 and bring these demands forward as we go into mid-term elections.

As the group marched through downtown Portland, many passersby joined in on chants and filmed the march on their phones. Chants included, “Money for homes and education, not for bombs and devastation” and “From Iran to Falastin, stop the U.S. war machine!” A lone Zionist confronted the group yelling obscenities and followed the march for several blocks. Eventually, the Zionist was confronted by multiple marchers and was forced to leave the area of the march.

The march ended where it started, at Terry Schrunk Plaza. Singer David Rovicks performed at the event as attendees mingled and spoke with the organizations present about future organizing efforts.

The event was endorsed by the Freedom Road Socialist Organization, Sunrise Movement PDX, Diaspora Pa'lante Collective, and Veterans for Peace.

#PortlandOR #OR #AntiWarMovement #Palestine #October7

Portland, OR – On the evening of Friday, September 25, immigrant rights activists gathered outside Gateway Discovery Park to demand killer ICE off our streets and justice for victims of ICE. This rally was in response to Legalization for All's national call to action for the recent ICE shooting of Wilber Garces Perez in Austin, Texas.

Portland Contra las Deportaciones (PDXCD) organized the rally, and members of the immigrant rights organization held signs honoring lives lost by ICE. Local community members joined the mobilization and shared their anger with ICE terror. The demands “Killer ICE off our streets” and “Justice for Wilber” were echoed by those present.

PDXCD members gave short statements on how the recent uptick in ICE shootings informs their organizing. “We must keep demanding that Portland city government take action to shut down the Portland ICE facility before another life is lost,” said Beatriz Ibarra, referring to PDXCD’s campaign to revoke the permit for the Portland ICE facility.

Portland also experienced an ICE shooting in January 2026, when two Venezuelan asylum seekers were shot at near 148th and Burnside. Like Garces Perz in Texas, the victim of the Portland shooting, Luis Niño-Moncada, was charged with assault. That case is ongoing, as the defense attorney for the victims say agents attempted to tamper with evidence.

#PortlandOR #OR #ImmigrantRights #WilberPerez #ICE #PDXCD

Portland, OR – On September 28, right-wing extremist Thomas Allen attended his arraignment for assaulting immigrant rights protester Holly Brown. Anti-ICE activists held a press conference beforehand and packed the court to show support for Brown and demand strict conditions of release.

Allen faces four misdemeanor charges for pushing Brown into a concrete pillar outside of Multnomah County Court during a protest demanding the closure of the Portland ICE facility.

Immigrant rights organization Portland Contra Las Deportaciones held the press conference before Allen’s arraignment. Activists held signs with the slogans, “White supremacists out of Portland” “MAGA out of Portland” and “Convict Thomas Allen.” They led chants calling for Allen’s conviction and for ICE to leave Portland.

Brown spoke to local news station KOIN news regarding the need for strict release conditions.

“Allen comes to immigrant rights and anti-Trump protests with the sole goal of instigating violence so he can attack progressive protesters,” said Brown. “He is attempting to repress our organizing. The county has a responsibility to protect our First Amendment rights and keep him away from our protests.”

Allen and a group of MAGA extremists showed up to the press conference and harassed the anti-ICE protesters. One of Allen’s supporters grabbed a bystander by the ponytail. They yelled racial epithets at an attendee of the press conference.

After the press conference, both groups went inside the courthouse. Brown’s supporters far outnumbered Allen’s. Two news outlets entered the courtroom as well.

The arraignment was initially assigned to Judge Steffan Alexander. Alexander is also overseeing the legal proceedings for the Portland ICE facility. On the day Brown was assaulted, she was protesting to demand Judge Alexander remove a block on the enforcement of a land use violation issued to the Portland ICE facility for holding detainees past a 12-hour limit.

Knowing this may make Alexander biased against Brown, PDXCD put out a call for supporters to email Alexander demanding he enforce strict conditions of release. After the pressure, Alexander requested to be switched off the arraignment, and a new judge oversaw the proceedings.

Allen entered a plea of “not guilty.” Brown was allowed to speak to the judge and requested certain release conditions.

Brown spoke to the constant harassment and violence from Allen, as well as his hateful rhetoric and instigation of his large following on X to violence.

The judge agreed to release conditions requiring Allen to stay 500 feet away from Brown and preventing him from communication with or about Brown, including through social media.

After the arraignment, Allen and his group left the courtroom and immediately posted about Brown, violating his court order.

Immigrant rights activists celebrated the strict conditions of release. “These conditions mean Allen won’t be able to harass and intimidate our protests for immigrant rights,” said attendee Blaire Glennon. “This was only possible due to our constant pressure on the district attorney. Standing up loudly against all forms of oppression is the only way we will win.”

#PortlandOR #OR #ImmigrantRights #RightWing #PDXCD

Portland, OR – Multnomah County issued an arrest warrant on September 22 for right-wing extremist Thomas Allen for the assault of immigrant rights protester Holly Brown.

The warrant came after a campaign demanding Multnomah County District Attorney Nathan Vasquez press charges.

Allen is a right-wing influencer known for showing up at anti-Trump and anti-ICE protests in Portland to harass and assault progressive activists. Despite many instances of assault and using chemical weapons on protesters in front of police, he was only arrested once, in October 2025, for punching an anti-ICE protester at the Portland ICE facility. He pled guilty then to a charge of disorderly conduct.

On September 1, during a press conference at Multnomah County Courthouse to demand the closure of the Portland ICE facility, Allen violently shoved Brown into a concrete pillar, causing a head injury and whiplash. Police were on site, witnessed the assault, and did not arrest Allen. They formed a line to protect Allen from the immigrant rights protestors who had just been assaulted.

Brown filed a police report for the assault stating, “The police allow Allen to do their dirty work of silencing and repressing immigrant rights protests. We must put pressure on the police and district attorney to arrest and charge these violent MAGA extremists so we can continue our important work of fighting ICE terror.”

A video by PDXCD describing the assault and asking viewers to call and email the DA amassed almost 1 million views on different social media platforms, with thousands of comments stating they contacted the DA.

Allen then held hate rallies two weeks in a row at a local queer-friendly bar, the Sports Bra, for its support of trans rights. The Freedom Road Socialist Organization (FRSO) held counter-protests and ran Allen and his transphobic group away from the bar. This garnered a large amount of media attention and trans rights activists pointed out the lack of police action when Allen and his group assaulted more protesters and used large amounts of chemical weapons in a residential neighborhood.

After the second hate rally, PDXCD called a press conference at Multnomah County Courthouse for September 21 to highlight the lack of action by the police and DA on September 1 and how it allowed Allen to continue to enact more violence in the following weeks.

The morning before the press conference, the district attorney notified the media they were moving forward with charges on Allen for his assault of Brown and that a warrant for his arrest was in process.

PDXCD continued with the press conference. Allen showed up to the event and harassed attendees as they spoke with three news stations. The immigrant rights protesters then marched to the police station with the media to demand answers as to why the police are allowing right-wing extremists to attack progressive activists with no consequences. Allen followed the group into the police station, yelling insults regarding people’s identities.

While inside the police station, KOIN news reporter Ariel Salk approached Allen on camera and told him there was a warrant for his arrest. Allen, shocked and confused, stated he was unaware and that it was “bullshit.” He immediately left the police station rather than risk arrest, ended his livestream and rode away on a Lime scooter.

There is now an active warrant for Allen’s arrest. PDXCD is urging anyone who sees him to contact the non-emergency hotline at 503-823-3333 to report his location and demand police arrest him.

Allen is facing four misdemeanor charges: class four assault, two counts of harassment and one count of disorderly conduct. As a condition of his charges, Allen is not allowed within a two-block radius of Brown. He is also barred from the Multnomah County Courthouse, outside of his court appearances. He was on probation for his arrest last October and will potentially face consequences for probation violation.

“It is about time Allen faced consequences for his attempts to stifle anti-ICE and anti-Trump protests,” said immigrant rights activist Omar Gill. “The issue remains that it took thousands of phone calls and media attention to get the police and district attorney to do the right thing. Many others who’ve been assaulted by Allen are still without justice. It is clear we must continue to place demands on the city and county to take action against these MAGA extremists.”

#PortlandOR #OR #ImmigrantRights #PeoplesStruggles #MAGA #ThomasAllen #PDXCD #Feature

Portland, OR – On September 21, transphobic right-wing extremists led by Thomas Allen returned to a queer-friendly establishment, the Sports Bra, to harass patrons. This was their second protest there in two weeks. Trans rights activists also returned to counter-protest and pushed the anti-trans agitators out of the area for the second week in a row.

The Sports Bra has been the target of attacks by the right after a video went viral of their employees’ asking patrons with transphobic t-shirts to cover up their shirts or leave the bar. The people wearing the t-shirts are anti-trans activists with large followings on social media. They purposely went to the bar to get a reaction to post online.

Allen planned his first protest of the bar on September 11, calling for a rally to “protect women and girls.” He and around five other anti-trans agitators brought signs demeaning trans people and tried to start fights with passersby. Over 30 people showed up to counter the hate rally. Allen and his group were chased away from the Sports Bra. They went to a nearby Fred Meyer grocery store and called the police, who witnessed one of the right-wingers use bear mace on someone. The police did not arrest the person who used bear mace, despite its use being illegal. They provided Allen with an escort away from the store.

For his second protest, Allen brought out around ten right-wing extremists, carrying American flags, wearing face coverings with skulls, and transphobic t-shirts. Over 100 pro-trans activists came out to counter-protest the transphobes after a call was put out by the Freedom Road Socialist Organization.

Seeing how greatly outnumbered they were, Allen’s group quickly left the area. As they left, one right-wing extremist unleashed bear spray indiscriminately into a large crowd of people.

Trans rights activists continued to follow the agitators, pushing them further and further away from the bar. They yelled chants such as “Hey hey, ho ho, transphobia has got to go.”

Allen’s group went into residential streets and threw tear gas canisters at the trans-rights activists, a crime in Portland. Portland police drove by and made no arrests.

Once Allen’s group was far away from the bar, many of the pro-trans activists made their way back to the bar to continue the protest with more chants and messages of resistance. Unprecedented, a local brass band that appears at anti-Trump protests, played music for the trans rights activists.

At the bar, many reported feeling empowered by the community defense action.

“Allen and his goons have been attacking anti-Trump and pro-immigrant protests for over a year now, with police doing nothing to stop it,” said activist Evelyn Thomson with the Freedom Road Socialist Organization, “today we showed that if the police won’t do anything we will protect ourselves.”

One person was arrested during the protest; rather than arrest the MAGA protesters for their illegal use of chemical weapons, Portland Police arrested a trans rights activist. Police told media the arrest was for a separate incident and there was a warrant on the arrestee. What they left out was the warrant was from when the same right-wing extremists protested outside a Hasan Piker show on August 23. The person arrested defended the community from multiple assaults the right-wingers carried out on those in attendance and was charged with crimes as a result.

Allen and his group have counter-protested many of the anti-Trump protests over the last year. They are known for using physical violence and chemical weapons to attack those they disagree with. Emboldened by the Trump presidency, they typically wear MAGA attire and focus their attacks on immigrants.

Immigrant rights organization Portland Contra Las Deportaciones is calling for Allen’s arrest, following his assault of immigrant rights activist Holly Brown on September 1. At a press conference calling for the closure of the Portland ICE facility, Allen shoved Brown into a concrete pillar in front of Multnomah County Courthouse. Police witnessed the attacks and made no arrests. PDXCD is holding a press conference to demand District Attorney Nathan Vasquez press charges.

#PortlandOR #OR #LGBTQ #PeoplesStruggles #MAGA #PDXCD #ThomasAllen

“The successive attacks on Salvadorans and Haitians under TPS shows a systematic targeting of legal immigrants by nationality one by one,” said PDXCD member Cami Saunders.

Members of PDXCD held signs that read “ICE out” and “Defend TPS,” in addition to chanting “TPS! Lo merecen” and “Salvadorans are welcome here.” Despite a single hostile reaction, they were met with overwhelming honks and shouts of support. Curious pedestrians walked by and were educated on what TPS was.

“We have to stand up against these cruel terminations by the Trump administration.

Salvadorans are welcome here in Portland and everywhere!” stated a PDXCD member.

#PortlandOR #OR #ImmigrantRights #TPS #ElSalvador #PDXCD #Legalization4All

Portland, OR – On September 11, right-wing extremist Thomas Allen announced plans to protest the Sports Bra, a local gay bar catering to women’s sports fans. Allen was protesting a viral video where Sports Bras employees refused service to customers with transphobic shirts. Pro-trans activists showed up and ran Allen out of the area.

Allen is known for harassing protests around Portland, often getting violent. He posted on X calling for a “rally to support women and girls” and demand “men out of womens spaces” at the Sports Bra.

Pro-trans activists mobilized to defend the bar. Allen showed up with a small group of people, and they were quickly outnumbered by a crowd chanting for trans rights.

When Allen and his group saw the number of pro-trans activists in front of the bar they stayed on the other side of the street. The trans rights activists then crossed the street and pushed Allen back even further into a parking lot.

Chants used included “Protect trans kids” and “Racist, sexist, anti-gay! Thomas Allen go away!”

Allen and his group responded by spraying trans rights protesters with bear spray. Portland police showed up and watched but took no action.

“Time and time again, we see Portland police show up when Thomas Allen is spreading his hate and violence around Portland and do nothing to protect regular people fighting for justice,” said Sage Joyce. Joyce attended the protest with the Freedom Road Socialist Organization and held a large banner that read, “Pride means fight back.”

More and more people joined the protest against Allen, including those who were just passing by or lived in the area and heard the chants.

Allen and his group retreated down the street, but the trans rights protestors continued to follow him, chanting “MAGA out of Portland.” Allen and his group walked all the way to a nearby grocery store and entered to call the police. The trans rights protesters also entered the grocery store and notified the customers that a violent agitator with weapons was in the building.

Allen then left the store and one of the members of his group bear-sprayed a man who was shopping at the store.

Police showed up and spoke with Allen. One of the members of Allen's group bear-sprayed another person in front of the police. Activists demanded police arrest her for macing someone unprovoked. They refused and said the macing was justified because the protesters were following her.

Allen and his group left with a police escort. Spirits remained high among those who protested against Allen.

“Transphobes aren’t welcome in Portland, and when police show us they won’t protect our city from this hate, we have to do it ourselves” said trans rights activist Cole Dunahugh.

Just last week Allen assaulted anti-ICE protesters in front of Multnomah County Court. Progressive community organizations are demanding District Attorney Nathan Vasquez pursue charges for all his assaults on Portlanders.

#PortlandOR #OR #LGBTQ #PeoplesStruggles #Transphobia #ThomasAllen

Portland, OR – On September 9, ICE beat a Portland area Palestinian who was resisting deportation to the genocide in Palestine. ICE attempted to place Tareq Zakarneh on a deportation flight. When he resisted, ICE put him in a WRAP restraint device and beat him so badly his tooth was broken.

ICE arrested Zakarneh in May 2024 in Vancouver, Washington. He’s been in ICE detention for over two years and resisted deportation numerous times.

On September 8, ICE moved him from the Northwest Detention Center in Tacoma, Washington to a facility in Mesa, Arizona for a final removal flight. He filed two emergency motions, for a habeas appeal and an emergency temporary restraining order.

Despite these motions, ICE attempted to put him on a plane and assaulted him when he resisted. If Zakarneh is deported, he will be sent to Israel and possibly the West Bank.

“The United States is attempting to deport Tareq to an active genocide that they are funding,” said Cole Dunahugh, “If he is deported, he risks ending up in a Israeli prison subject to torture, or becoming a victim of settler and military violence in the West Bank. Both the deportation and U.S. funding of Israel must end.”

Dunahugh is a member of Portland for Palestine (P4P), a grassroots group advocating for Zakarneh’s release.

In response to the escalated attempts at deportation, P4P visited the office of Zakarneh’s congressional representative, Marie Gluesenkamp Perez, last week to ask her to act. They were turned away. P4P is currently calling on the public to call and email the judge overseeing Zakarneh’s case to demand his release. Judge Krissa Lanham can be contacted at 602-322-7590 and lanham_chambers@azd.uscourts.gov.

“Those who are supposed to serve the public have failed Tareq every step of the way,” said P4P member Kacey Desantis, “It calls into question who these government officials really work for – the people, or ICE and warmongers?”

Over the last year, ICE used private jets owned by Florida property tycoon Gil Dezer to deport Palestinians to Tel Aviv and then the West Bank. Detainees report being dropped off at a West Bank checkpoint in prison uniforms, with nowhere to go and no way to contact anyone. The flights are estimated to have cost $500,000 of U.S. taxpayer money per flight.

Zakarneh is still under immediate threat of deportation. P4P was able to hire a lawyer with donations from supporters and will continue to fight the case.

#PortlandOR #OR #ImmigrantRights #ICE #Palestine #P4P #AntiWarMovement

Portland, OR – On September 1, activists demanding the closure of the Portland ICE facility were attacked by right-wing reactionaries.

Protesters held a press conference before a hearing at Multnomah County Court. The landlord of the ICE facility is demanding Multnomah County overturn a land use violation issued against the facility last year. He argues the city is biased against ICE. The violation was for detaining immigrants past a 12-hour limit.

Violent right-wing extremist Thomas Allen showed up with a group to harass the protest. He is known for physically assaulting activists, particularly women. He attempted to push his way into the protest. Activist Holly Brown stepped in front of him, using a plastic lid of a storage bin as a shield.

Allen responded by calling Brown a slur and violently shoving her to the ground. He pushed her so hard she hit her head against a concrete pillar behind her.

Multnomah County Sheriffs came out of the court and formed a line protecting Allen. He was not arrested.

Portland Contra Las Deportaciones (PDXCD) held the press conference. Last May, Allen came to another protest put on by the PDXCD and was physical with protesters. Immigrant rights activist Samantha Ibarra used pepper spray to defend herself. She was immediately arrested.

“There is a difference in how immigrant rights protesters and right-wing agitators are treated in Portland,” stated Brown, “The police and district attorney must take action against Allen.”

Brown filed a police report. This is the second police report she filed against Allen in the last year. In March 2026 she filed another report after Allen pepper sprayed her at another protest. As of this article, Allen faces no charges.

Despite the attacks, the press conference continued. Two news stations showed up. Activists chanted, “Revoke the permit,” referring to the permit that allows the ICE detention facility to operate.

At 1 p.m. PDXCD members packed the court, filling the room. The proceedings lasted ten minutes. No decision was made, and another hearing was scheduled for November 20.

“The courts are being used to stall enforcement of the law against ICE,” said Beatriz Ibarra, an organizer with PDXCD. “This process is needlessly complicated. It shouldn’t be this hard to shut down a concentration camp.”

Protesters caught the judge overseeing the case as he left the courthouse. They followed Judge Steffan Alexander, demanding answers as to why he is not ruling against the ICE facility.

Judge Alexander refused to answer questions and police escorted him into another courthouse.

Portland Contra Las Deportaciones plans to continue to demand that the ICE facility be shut down and that Thomas Allen is arrested.

#PortlandOR #OR #ImmigrantRights #PDXCD #ICE

Portland, OR – On August 21, immigrant rights organization Portland Contra las Deportaciones (PDXCD) held a fundraiser at Pepe’s Karaoke Bar. Pepe’s is an immigrant-owned, family-run restaurant serving Mexican food, where nearly 100 people celebrated the movement.

The organization successfully raised over $1000, with funds going towards their political and defense campaigns, as well as their community outreach projects. 

Local drag performer Quesa D’Mondays emceed the event. They kept the energy high, with the crowd chanting, “Fuck ICE!” and “Revoke the permit!” They also highlighted PDXCD’s current campaign to shut down an ICE field office in Portland.

The evening was filled with vibrant performances of both English and Spanish songs. Cruz Rivera, a partygoer, said, “I saw an Instagram post about the fundraiser and thought that it would be both a wonderful time singing and supporting a cause that I believe in.” 

Near the stage, activists set up a table full of information about PDXCD. It described their general meetings, barrio walks, and the campaigns that they are currently waging. They also sold stickers and t-shirts with their logo and another with a design that read “Legalization for all.” QR codes were laid out on all dining tables for electronic donations.

PDXCD member Sage Saunders stated, “The success of this fundraiser clearly shows that the people believe in the work that we are carrying out, and that the people are willing to financially support an organization that is ready to fight! Many of our members were here as well, making sure to form connections with others that are not yet a part of our organization.”

PDXCD continues to wage a struggle against ICE and its facility on the South Waterfront. They have had great successes, but are faced with an impasse as the landlord Stuart Lindquist uses the legal system to further delay the revocation proceedings. They are currently meeting the enemy where they are at, vigilantly watching and attending the legal proceedings.

#PortlandOR #OR #ImmigrantRights #PDXCD

Portland, OR – On August 11, the immigrant rights organization Portland Contra Las Deportaciones held a rally to demand an end to attacks on Haitian immigrants as a part of a week of action called by national network Legalization for All. The rally was just a few blocks away from a Haitian church.

The rally came two weeks after the Trump administration terminated Temporary Protected Status for the roughly 350,000 Haitians covered by the temporary immigration benefit.

“This cruel decision reflects the racist and dehumanizing agenda of the Trump administration. We firmly stand in solidarity with the Haitians in Ohio facing mass deportation,” stated Cami Saunders of PDXCD. Organizers emphasized their campaign demanding Portland revoke the permit for the local ICE facility and the need for city government to take action to protect local Haitians.

“If the ICE facility remains with a permit, there will be no way to ensure safety for our local Haitian community affected by this ruling,” said Cruz Rivera, another member of PDXCD.

During the event, counter-protesters showed up to disrupt and spread hate. PDXCD organizers quickly responded by shifting to a visibility rally, which drowned out the uninvited. Cars honking in sympathy with the rally helped spread the message of “Legalization not deportation!” Haitian community members were seen waving from their cars.

Beatriz Ibarra, an organizer with PDXCD, summarized the event, “Even though agitators popped up, it was a successful event. We had members from the Haitian community drive by, and a few who were in the neighborhood joined our rally.”

#PortlandOR #OR #ImmigrantRights #PDXCD #Haitians #TPS

Portland, OR – On August 11, a Multnomah County jury found Dr. Catherine Esperanza guilty of the bogus charge of “interfering with a police officer” after the Portland Police Bureau violently arrested her for protesting outside the ICE facility.

Local immigrant rights organization Portland Contra Las Deportaciones waged a campaign to drop the charges and condemned the sham conviction.

After helping build public pressure to fight the charges through an email campaign and confrontations of the district attorney, activists and community supporters held a press conference, August 10, before the trial and attended both days of the proceedings.

Both the arrest and the trial showed Multnomah County and Portland Police’s clear bias against immigrant rights protesters.

Esperanza was arrested after police pushed protesters out of the driveway of the ICE facility using batons during a May Day protest at the facility. Bodycam footage showed they made a targeted arrest of protester Cole Dunahugh, claiming he breached the gate at the facility. This was a complete falsehood and so the charges on Dunahugh were later dropped.

During the arrest, police shoved their way into the crowd and pushed a group of people down, on top of Esperanza. In the bodycam footage she could be heard screaming “I have a broken leg,” and attempting to get the crowd off of her injured leg. Police then flipped her onto her stomach and put a knee on her neck. She can be heard screaming “I can't breathe.” The district attorney painted this attempt as pulling police officers on top of her and forming a “human chain” to prevent arrests.

Judge Celia Howes curbed the defense attorney's ability to question witnesses, sustaining objections by the prosecutor to questions such as “Did police interact with protesters?” for being leading questions. When a witness stated police used batons to push back protesters, the prosecutor played a clipped video that began immediately after the use of batons and asked the witness to answer yes or no as to whether the police used batons in the video. When the witness attempted to say the use of batons was before the video began, judge Howes cut the witness off saying they could only answer in a yes or no format.

Additionally the prosecution continually said Dunahugh breached the gate at the ICE facility and that police were attacked with rocks, despite no evidence to support these claims.

After a two-hour deliberation, the jury delivered a guilty verdict. Supporters were angry, with many stating they see this as a complete miscarriage of justice.

Dr. Esperanza vowed not to allow the verdict to stop her fight for justice and to stop deportations. She released the following statement, “This guilty verdict is not a victory for justice; this case is a desperate attempt by the state to intimidate us into silence.”

The city has continually repressed the fight to revoke the permit to shut down the ICE facility, and this shameful guilty verdict is another example of this repression.

Esperanza’s statement declares, “They think that charging activists and targeting those who stand up for immigrant rights will break our resolve. They are wrong. Instead of chilling us, this blatant misuse of the legal system has galvanized our movement.”

The city continues to allow violations of human rights and the land use permit to occur at the ICE facility. Meanwhile, those who stand up for the human rights of immigrants and those impacted by ICE are persecuted for their work in advocating for dignity, equity, justice and care for all members of the Portland community.

#PortlandOR #OR #ImmigrantRights #ICE #PoliticalRepression #InjusticeSystem

Portland, OR – On August 2, smoke filled the air in downtown Portland. The historic Centennial Mills Warehouse was on fire. As firefighters poured water onto the building, all eight floors collapsed, sending debris into the air and onto the surrounding residential buildings, which would later test positive for asbestos.

The toxic air was reminiscent of similar scenes in the South Waterfront neighborhood over the past year at the Portland ICE facility, where ICE and DHS deployed large amounts of chemical weapons at immigrant rights protesters over a period of several months. The effects of those weapons were felt miles away.

The bad air quality is not the only similarity between the two environmental catastrophes. Both buildings are owned by real estate developer Stuart Lindquist.

Activists with Portland Contra Las Deportaciones (PDXCD), an immigrant rights organization leading a campaign to shut down the Portland ICE facility, were quick to make the connection.

“It’s not surprising to me that a man who makes $2.4 million annually off renting out a concentration camp to ICE is also the owner of a derelict building that burnt down and poisoned the neighborhood as a result of his negligence,” said Beatriz Ibarra. “The question I have is, when will the city finally step in and put an end to his dangerous investments?”

Lindquist was issued a land use violation by the city of Portland in September 2025 for violating the terms of the permit for the ICE facility, by holding detainees past a 12-hour limit numerous times. This came after months of public pressure and a petition of over 19,000 signatures.

Almost a year later, the city has yet to collect any fines for this violation. In fact, during the last year, Lindquist was granted more opportunities for real estate projects by the city.

In August 2025, when a school next to the ICE facility was forced to relocate due to all the chemical weapons nearby, City Councilmember Mitch Green stepped in fast track permit approval for the school to move into another building owned by Lindquist.

In October 2025, while Donald Trump was deploying the National Guard to “protect” the Portland ICE facility from protesters, the Portland Design Commission approved Lindquist’s plans to develop the Centennial Mills Warehouse into residential housing, despite public outcry, given Lindquist's track history.

“Again and again Lindquist is given the green light by the city to make money off Portlanders, but when we ask for the city to hold him accountable, we’re told this is impossible,” said Blaire Glennon, another member of PDXCD.

In response to calls for the city to shut down the Portland ICE facility, officials made it clear they are not interested in acting. Councilors Mitch Green, Tiffany Koyama Lane, Angelita Morillo, Jamie Dunphy and Sameer Kanal put out a statement saying they will not revoke the permit for the Portland ICE facility. A video was leaked where City Administrator Raymond Lee let city employees know the city is “committed to keeping the facility open.”

Demolition orders were served to Lindquist for the Centennial Mills property, and the city states an investigation is ongoing into the cause of the fire. So far, the city has not pursued any repercussions for the release of asbestos into the air, or the fire-related shutdown of critical public transportation surrounding the property.

This clear pattern of allowing Lindquist to move forward with real estate projects despite evidence his investments cause harm to the city, and the refusal of the city to step in once this harm does occur, raises questions as to whether city officials are working for regular Portlanders, or wealthy and influential individuals.

“We remain committed in demanding the ICE facility is shut down,” said Glennon. “The Centennial Mills fire just makes it clearer that this is an emergency.”

On August 14, Lindquist will be back in court regarding the land use violation of the Portland ICE facility. Lindquist continues to challenge the ruling, and appealed to Multnomah County Court, claiming the city is biased against ICE. Given the city's explicit commitment to keeping the facility open, PDXCD maintains this is simply an attempt to continue to stall. They will be mobilizing for the hearing to put pressure on the judge to strike down the case.

#PortlandOR #OR #ImmigrantRights #PDXCD

Portland, OR – Portland for Palestine (P4P) gathered in the late morning of Sunday, July 19, along Natio Parkway in Portland to join in celebrating queerness during Portland’s Pride parade, and to name and shame parade contingents who participate and enable Israel’s occupation and genocide in Palestine.

The parade was marshaled by Dykes on Bikes, throwing their choppers into full throttle to rapturous applause. As the parade contingents passed by the Portland for Palestine group, they were greeted with the message of “Happy Pride and free Palestine,” which was mostly met with joyful solidarity.

But as the grocery store corporation Fred Meyer began crossing onto SW Ankeny Street, P4P began chanting, “Fred Meyer out of pride! You retail a genocide.” P4P organizer Judas Graves took to the megaphone, shaming Fred Meyer for actively promoting the Israeli fizz-baron SodaStream and for profiting off retail goods produced in illegal settlements.

As the parade moved onward, airlines, retailers and banks all caught condemnation for continuing their operations in the apartheid state. Nike, Columbia Sportswear, Daimler, Marriott, Jacobs Solutions, and JPMorgan Chase were all highlighted.

It’s been a longtime criticism of Pride events that corporate participation dilutes the original message of queer visibility and liberation. Many spectators joined in the public shaming, echoing “Free, free Palestine” on both sides of the street. Many were shocked to learn just how complicit these companies are; “That’s so fucked” yelled one young man covered in body glitter.

“I definitely feel conflicted,” said 24-year-old parade-goer Alexis Sonner, “I came out here today to be gay, look hot, and dance with my friends. The last thing I wanna do is validate JPMorgan.”

As queer folks in the United States face erosion of civil liberties and physical safety, it is abundantly clear that members of Portland for Palestine are far from the only people who want to see, not just Pride events, but everything divested from corporations and genocide.

#PortlandOR #OR #LGBTQ #AntiWarMovement #Palestine #P4P

Portland, OR – On Wednesday, July 15, 230-plus community members gathered together at Discovery Gateway Park to honor the three lives stolen by ICE killers. The event, organized by Portland Contra Las Deportaciones demanded ICE off our streets and justice for Lorenzo Salgado, Joan Sebastián Durán Guerrero, and the third victim from Florida.

The event had a large ofrenda where attendees left items for the victims. The table was filled with candles, colorful flowers that included the traditional cempasúchil, beer, lottery cards, sweet cookies and more.

As people entered the park, they were able to leave their offerings at the altar and pick up a small candle. After speeches, people lit their candles and listened to songs by activist group Singing Resistance. Afterwards, the community blew out their candles to honor the three victims.

Gabriel Ollinsix a leading member of Portland Contra las Deportaciones was the first speaker and set the tone for the night, “We know that if our families are ever going to have true safety, if we are ever going to know that our fathers, our tíos, and our loved ones will come home at the end of the day, we must drive ICE out of our communities.”

This was the sentiment that was felt throughout the attendees. While there were a few tears at different times and there were a few chants repeated with anger demanding justice, the overall feeling was the understanding that no one is safe as long as ICE is out in the streets.

While the event was first announced on Sunday, July 12, by the time the event happened on Wednesday, July 15, two more victims had been included: Joan Sebastián Durán Guerrero and a third victim, Juan Coronilla. The victims were from Latin America, which brought Spanish speakers to the event. The speakers all gave their speeches in Spanish and English.

Speakers also addressed the repression faced by activist Nadia Topete in Southern California. Topete was called before a grand jury twice over the last year in response to her immigrant rights activism. Attendees honored her resistance and committed to continuing to help her fight this repression.

The event ended with a call to action from Cami Saunders: “Thank you for being here with us today, and I hope to see all of you again! The fight continues, and there is so much to do here in Portland. The murders did not happen in our city, but we are fighting to close the facility, to prevent it from happening here.”

Volunteers went around the park as people were leaving with tablets to send emails to the Portland Permitting and Development to demand the Portland ICE facility be shut down.

#PortlandOR #OR #ImmigrantRights #KillerICE #ICE #PDXCD #Feature

Portland, OR – On July 10, the city of Portland dismissed an appeal by Portland ICE facility landlord Stuart Lindquist to overturn land use violations issued in September 2025, following months of public pressure by immigrant rights activists.

This latest victory for the immigrant rights movement follows a mass mobilization to a court hearing on the same day, where Multnomah County judge Steffan Alexander ruled the enforcement process could move forward following another legal challenge by Lindquist.

The ICE facility has been embroiled in a convoluted back-and-forth legal battle over the past year since an initial land use violation was issued, for holding detainees past a 12-hour limit and boarding up windows. Activists placed pressure on the city to move forward with not only enforcement but to revoke the permit for the Portland ICE facility entirely. In response, the city dragged its feet, and the landlord was granted multiple appeals in different jurisdictions regarding the same case.

After a year of voluntary delays of enforcement by the city, a hearings officer was set to give a ruling on an appeal filed by Lindquist on June 5. However, Lindquist then appealed to Multnomah County to delay this process further, arguing the hearings officer in Portland was biased. A Multnomah County judge sided with Lindquist and allowed a temporary stay on this ruling until a later court date in August 2026.

The city of Portland filed a motion to dismiss this stay, which was heard in court on July 10. Activists with PDXCD launched into motion and led an email and call-in campaign to the judge overseeing the July 10 hearing, sending hundreds of emails, holding a press conference outside the hearing with multiple news outlets, and mobilizing so many people to the hearing that the court room was filled and people were forced into overflow rooms.

The judge acknowledged the public pressure, stating he received many emails regarding this case. He then ruled against Lindquist and removed the stay. Almost immediately after, the city of Portland rejected Lindquist’s appeal.

The battle is not over yet. On August 14, Lindquist’s motion to dismiss the land use violation entirely will head to Multnomah County court once again. His argument rests on an accusation that the city of Portland is biased against the ICE facility.

Activists find this argument to be ludicrous, and instead argue the city has shown preference to the ICE facility over the greater Portland community.

“Over and over, the city stalled enforcing obvious violations by the ICE facility of both city code and human rights,” said activist Bailey Ullom, “An immigrant was held for 47 days in that building, an entire neighborhood was gassed, and yet a year later, it is still allowed to operate. It is clear the city has a bias towards wealthy developers and landlords, and the community is expected to just put up with it.”

Lindquist’s lawyer argued during the July 10 hearing that, if the land use violation was upheld, the Portland City Council would immediately revoke the permit, but even the most “progressive” city councilors have stated their opposition to revoking the permit. One councilor, Angelita Morillo, who identifies as a democratic socialist, went so far as to create a website to convince the people of Portland that the council should not revoke the permit.

Now that the land-use violation is upheld, the city can move forward with fining the landlord for $934 a month. Activists say this is not enough and demand the city moves forward with the process to revoke the permit for the facility entirely.

Lindquist’s attorney agreed the fine was not an issue for the ICE facility, stating during the hearing that “the $934 is not the problem.”

“The real problem for the ICE facility is if we get it shut down,” said PDXCD member Beatriz Ibarra, “that’s why Lindquist is fighting so hard to stall this in court, and why the city is giving him so many allowances. The city also does not want to shut down the facility.”

PDXCD vows to continue putting pressure on the city. They will be continuing with their email campaign for Lindquist's motion on August 14 to be struck down, and also for the Portland Permitting and Development Bureau to begin the reconsideration process to revoke the permit.

#PortlandOR #OR #ImmigrantRights #ICE #DetentionCenter

Portland, OR – For this year’s July 4 holiday, the United States’ 250th anniversary, Portland made it clear with a rally and protest that there was nothing to celebrate. The event aimed to establish that there is “No freedom in endless war” and demand that money be spent on human needs, not war and genocide, referring to the increase of U.S. aggression internationally over the last year and over 1000 days of genocide against the Palestinian people.

The event was hosted by Portland for Palestine (P4P), following the national call to action from the Anti-War Action Network (AWAN). P4P was joined by the Portland district of the Freedom Road Socialist Organization (FRSO), Portland Contra Las Deportaciones (PDXCD), Portland Extinction Rebellion, Brown Hope, and Veterans for Peace Portland chapter 72.

The event started off with a rally at Terry Schrunk Federal Plaza, where over 150 people gathered with Palestine flags, upside-down American flags and signs opposing war, ICE and President Donald Trump. Judas Graves of P4P addressed the crowd with a question for the crowd, “I heard there is a holiday today but do we have anything to celebrate?” to which the crowd responded with a loud and resounding, “No!”

The energy of the crowd was high from the very beginning, with Graves leading chants of “No more endless war!” and “No more killing kids!”

Samantha Ibarra, a Marine Corp veteran and organizer with PDXCD, spoke of her time in the military as she joined with the hope of fulfilling the “American Dream” for her family. She states that instead she found the truth about military service: “Black, indigenous and people of color, immigrants or not, sacrifice themselves and gain nothing. Countless siblings, parents and partners are being used as disposable property of the government while the rich line their pockets from endless wars.” Ibarra is currently facing charges from the Portland police after exercising self-defense against right-wing agitators who regularly attend Portland protests and assault attendees.

The very same right-wing agitators were in attendance on the 4th, all holding their phones on tripods and yelling obscenities at the crowd before being pushed to the perimeter of the event by event and drowned out by chants.

Cameron Whitten from Brown Hope evoked the words of Frederick Douglass from his speech “What to the Slave Is the Fourth of July?” from 1852: “There is not a nation on the earth guilty of practices, more shocking and bloody, than are the people of these United States, at this very hour.” The weight of these words spoken nearly 175 years later was felt by everyone in attendance.

Whitten continued, “I am tired of having to see what is going on in this country on headlines with a degree of powerlessness. Because what I know is that we are powerful, we are a movement! We are a movement against war, against genocide, for education, for opportunity, for peace. We are here knowing that we have been trampled on, disgraced and insulted for far too long and enough is enough!”

After the rally, the sizable crowd embarked on a nearly two-mile march around the downtown Portland area. The group was followed by the city-famous “World on Fire” protest firetruck that was draped in banners that read “Stop the genocide, break the bonds” and “It will take all of us.” The group marched past the annual Waterfront Blues Festival that runs every Fourth of July weekend with chants of “Money for homes and education, not for bombs and devastation!”

Veterans for Peace Chapter 72 President Dan Shea, in a statement that was read aloud in his absence, pointed out “At 250 years, America does not need another hollow celebration. We need an honest reckoning: leaders who respect dissent, veterans who speak truth, communities that refuse fear, and citizens who know freedom is not proven by fireworks. Freedom is proven when the vulnerable are protected, war is restrained, power is accountable, and truth-tellers are heard instead of silenced.”

Portland for Palestine will continue to protest and speak out against unjust wars waged by the United States. The group maintains their demand to end all U.S. aid to Israel to stop the genocide of the Palestinian people.

#PortlandOR #OR #AntiWarMovement #AWAN #P4P

Portland, OR – On Friday, June 17, the immigrant rights organization Portland Contra las Deportaciones (PDXCD) held a rally outside of city hall and attended the city council meeting to demand the council and the mayor revoke the permit for the ICE facility. Over 30 community members were forcibly removed from the meeting while exercising their First Amendment rights.

The city has allowed landowner Stuart Lindquist many delays and extensions to appeal the land use violation issued to the Macadam Facility in September of 2025. Most recently, he appealed to a Multnomah County Circuit Court to claim the hearings officer in the case is biased. The appeal hearing was granted to Lindquist willingly by this hearings officer after the city failed to begin the revocation process or enforce the fine for the land use violation.

While preparing for the protest, activists encountered Mayor Keith Wilson walking towards city hall. Several tried to speak with him, asking what the city is doing to push forward the currently stalled land use violation hearings. Some chanted “Keith Wilson, do your job!” as he walked by ignoring their questions. Wilson rarely attends Portland City Council meetings, but was present to discuss the upcoming budget renewal.

The rally outside city hall was met with violent right-wing agitators who have historically assaulted and pepper-sprayed protesters unprovoked. The crowd chanted and maintained their energy over the sounds of the right wingers’ megaphones. Protesters then packed the first floor of the chambers, holding signs in the front row that read “Revoke the permit!” and “Shut down the Macadam facility!”

Protester Holly Brown also encountered Eric Kutch, director of Portland Permitting and Development. This is the department authorized to officially begin the revocation process. When questioned about the extremely slow movement of the administrative review that spanned from September to February, he claimed that was due to “following the legal process,” despite ICE’s terror on Portland and the surrounding neighborhood.

Kutch then stood up and walked out of the chambers. When Brown attempted to follow him, they were physically blocked from moving through a public building by a plainclothes private security officer.

Because Portland City Council meetings don’t allow opportunity for public comment, community members stood up and spoke out to condemn the council’s inaction and call for emergency legislation to be put forth. Activists repeatedly stood up one by one to disrupt the council proceedings and were swiftly removed. When speaking, Ivan Vargas said, “The clock has been ticking for over a year now regarding the revocation of the permit, while immigrants have been wrongfully and violently put in jail cells in this so-called ‘sanctuary city.’”

City Council President Jamie Dunphy ordered Vargas’ removal and the other activists who dared to speak out. Private security officers paid by the mayor’s office and a cop attending the meeting forcefully ejected more than 30 speakers.

The majority of Portland City Council are self-proclaimed progressives who routinely use the mayor’s private security and the Portland Police Bureau to repress immigrant rights activists.

As to why the city claims they are powerless over the ICE Facility, Democratic Socialist and reactionary councilor Angelita Morillo said, “Laws are enforced through force or through the legal court system and if the legal court system does not support our findings, then we don’t have any standing.” The legal system would have supported permit reconsideration if the city started it when they had the chance, and legal enforcement of city code would also be supported legally at this time.

Violent right-wing streamers cheered on this statement, with one shouting gratitude to the councilors for allowing the permit to keep the facility open.

Later, PDXCD member Taylor Goss countered the council’s hypocrisy in public comment when he said, “Councilor Morillo, you mentioned earlier this evening that Portland doesn’t have an armed force to enforce laws, but in May on May Day, the PPB was sent to defend the ICE facility and officers brutalized and arrested activists. In February, they were sent here, to city hall, to silence protesters who were exercising their First Amendment rights.”

Private security and PPB had also forcefully removed protesters earlier that evening, showing the city government does have power to use violence and force. However, they refuse to enforce city laws over private land leased to the federal government.

This was the first time PDXCD returned to a council meeting after their protest during a meeting in February after the deaths of Alex Pretti and Renee Good led to the city sending every available officer to the chambers to violently remove and arrest protesters.

PDXCD will mobilize to the next hearings in the land use violation appeals process to keep up public pressure on the city to move forward and fight back.

#PortlandOR #OR #ICE #ImmigrantRights #PDXCD