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‘This can happen to any of us': ICE activity in Oregon fuels ongoing Portland protests
PORTLAND, Ore. () — After two Newberg vineyard workers were arrested by Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents this week, the 'ICE Out of Portland' protest continues outside a federal detention center in the Rose City.
One of the vineyard workers who was arrested, Moises Sotelo, was taken by ICE in Yamhill County, then transported to the ICE facility in Portland and finally taken to Tacoma, Washington, his family said.
'He was able to call me. Kept it short and sweet, 'I'm in Portland, Immigration.' And he said, 'Talk to the lawyers,' Moises' daughter, Alondra Sotelo Garcia, told KOIN 6 News on Thursday.
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'There's a whole crew of daughters ready to protect our dads because this can happen,' said Brianna Nathaniel, a protester outside the Portland ICE facility, where signs reading 'Free Moises' could be seen on display.
Throughout the week, there was a steady presence of protesters outside the Portland ICE facility on South Macadam Avenue, with people camping overnight on multiple days. Nathaniel said they have no intention of leaving.
'They're being targeted. This can happen to any of us,' she said.
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Nathaniel said she advocates for peaceful protests to help unify a greater number of people to the cause.
'Our message gets lost in the mess. I understand the frustration, but we have to be peaceful about it. It gets us more folks as well. And it reduces those guys from acting scary,' she said. 'We have to save these people because right now they're being silenced, right.'
During some of the nighttime demonstrations at the Portland ICE facility this week, there were physical confrontations between some protesters and federal agents.
Federal agents deployed pepper balls and protesters allegedly engaged in vandalism, tried to start fires, and committed other crimes cited by the Portland Police Bureau. Portland police made 10 arrests on Thursday night and three arrests on Wednesday night.
The tone of the protests after dark contrasts with the daytime activity at the ICE facility, which remained largely peaceful throughout the week.
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One woman who had participated in a daytime protest at the ICE facility earlier this week but not during the nighttime altercations told KOIN 6 News, 'I don't agree with all of their tactics, but I understand we have the same goals and I absolutely support their efforts because of that.'
Earlier this month, ICE made four different arrests outside a Portland Immigration Courthouse. Two of those detainees were later released from ICE custody after lawyers with the Innovation Law Lab filed a habeas corpus petition to challenge the arrests.
Larger crowds of protesters are expected on Saturday, June 14, set to begin at noon at Portland's Waterfront Park downtown for a 'No Kings Day' rally.
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