PORTLAND, Ore. (KATU) — Police detained one person Friday night not far from the Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility in South Portland in a “targeted arrest” during a May Day protest.
It was not immediately clear what prompted the arrest outside of Gray’s Landing on Southwest Bancroft Street and Moody Avenue, which is across the street from the facility, but the Portland Police Bureau posted on X that officers had observed “criminal activity.”
Protesters surrounded police officers as they detained the person.
Protesters took part in May Day rallies Friday in Portland, gathering in the South Park Blocks and Elizabeth Caruthers Park.
Protesters rallied at the Elizabeth Caruthers on Friday evening and then marched to the ICE facility.
Some people dressed in all Black chanted, “Death, Death to the DHS.”
At the facility, protesters approached its gate chanting, “Revoke the permit.”
Over a loudspeaker, the Department of Homeland Security ordered protesters to get off federal property.
As hundreds of protesters pressed toward the facility, a Portland police vehicle arrived with police officers in riot gear standing on its running boards. The officers stepped off the vehicle and immediately pressed through the protesters to take up a position in front of the ICE facility’s gate, keeping the protesters away from the building.
Officers on bikes also arrived to bolster the police line.
Friday’s march to the ICE facility came a few days after a federal court of appeals ruled in favor of the Trump administration, saying federal officers can use tear gas and chemical munitions on protesters outside the ICE facility in South Portland.
The plaintiffs argued that the gas drifted into their units and caused them health problems.
Mercedes Moreno lives at Gray’s Landing and is a plaintiff in the lawsuit.
She came outside on Friday night to see if the authorities used tear gas on the protesters. If they did, that would be the signal for her to close her windows in her apartment.
“I usually have my bathroom ready to go, towels by the door. … I have my little strategy — grab my tear gas wipes that I have in my bathroom, and just get ready with my cat. My cat is pretty well trained at this point. He just kind of runs in there when it starts coming.”
She said if it gets too crazy, she would get a hotel room.
KATU’s Jennifer Singh contributed reporting.
