Border Czar Tom Homan announced Tuesday that he will travel to Portland, Oregon, in response to the ongoing Antifa-led occupation outside the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility in South Portland.
The occupation has persisted for over 30 consecutive days, marked by repeated attacks on federal agents and clashes between protesters and law enforcement.
Breaking — Federal police officers annihilate Antifa militants with teargas and crowd control munitions outside the ICE facility in Portland. pic.twitter.com/jxk8x3db7P
— Katie Daviscourt 📸 (@KatieDaviscourt) June 25, 2025
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In an interview on Fox Business, Homan said ICE would intensify its presence in sanctuary cities such as Portland and reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to enforcing immigration laws despite continued resistance from local officials and demonstrators.
“I’m going to head to Portland. I’m going out there. They’re not going to bully us. We’re going to do the job,” Homan said.
“We’re going to double down and triple down on sanctuary cities. Why? Not because they’re blue but because we know they are releasing public safety threats to the streets every day.”
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Homan emphasized that sanctuary policies hinder the ability of ICE to detain and remove individuals with criminal records.
“If we can’t arrest a bad guy in the jail, then we will go into the community and find them. Or we will do more worksite enforcement and find them at the worksite. And when we do these things and we ramp up that enforcement, we’re going to find others. Others who are not a criminal target but they’re in the country illegally, we’re going to arrest them, too,” he continued.
“So, what you’re going to get, sanctuary cities, is exactly what you don’t want: more agents in your communities and more collateral arrests. That’s what we’re going to do…So, for those who say they’re going to keep ICE out of the city, good luck with that!” Homan added.
Tom Homan: “I’m going to head to Portland. I’m going out there. They’re not going to bully us…”
— The Post Millennial (@TPostMillennial) July 8, 2025
The occupation outside the South Portland ICE facility began on June 7 and was launched in protest of the Trump administration’s mass deportation operations.
Since then, nightly altercations between federal officers and protesters have taken place, with demonstrators launching projectiles and other attacks at both the facility and its personnel.
Breaking — Federal police declare an unlawful assembly at the ICE facility in Portland.
Several arrests made as officers deploy endless tear gas, crowd control munitions to disperse crowd. pic.twitter.com/JWBpBalEoV
— Katie Daviscourt 📸 (@KatieDaviscourt) July 5, 2025
According to federal authorities, more than 21 individuals have been charged with a range of offenses, including assault on federal officers with deadly weapons, felony arson, possession of unregistered destructive devices, depredation of government property, and failure to comply with lawful orders.
A militant had thrown a lit flare at agents through the ICE facility gate. It’s unclear if officers were hit, but they conducted an operation to hunt down the target who escaped into the streets.
— Katie Daviscourt 📸 (@KatieDaviscourt) July 5, 2025
The Department of Homeland Security has reported a nearly 700 percent increase in attacks on ICE agents since President Trump took office.
Watch acting ICE Director Todd M. Lyons:
🎤Call Congresswoman Jayapal’s comments towards ICE “disgusting”
🐊Discuss the extremely high standards in all ICE detention facilities — including “Alligator Alcatraz”
🚨Detail the plan for curbing attacks against our officers and agents… pic.twitter.com/N8Q3dQREgy— U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (@ICEgov) July 8, 2025
Residents living near the ICE facility have voiced frustration over the prolonged occupation.
A Portland resident confronts Antifa for blaring music past midnight at the ongoing ICE facility occupation:
“I’m coming back every night and I’m breaking your sh-t. We the people need sleep. You’re worse than ICE, terrorizing us every night. Go f-ck yourself.” pic.twitter.com/gpDBdPYiuP
— Katie Daviscourt 📸 (@KatieDaviscourt) June 29, 2025
Many have reported ongoing disturbances that have impacted their ability to sleep, particularly those residing in low-income and elderly housing units.
Despite repeated 911 calls, the Portland Police Bureau has declined to intervene, citing staffing shortages and the city’s sanctuary policies, which limit cooperation with federal immigration enforcement.
One resident captured in a viral video published by The Post Millennial announced plans to file a lawsuit against the city for failing to protect residents from the disruptions.
I’m protecting myself & my community from the weaponized noise that’s hurting innocent people who live near ICE. We want the “peace” part of peaceful protesting. You can support me & contribute at https://t.co/zudDOqzqsL for the lawsuit I filed today against the City of #PDX. pic.twitter.com/WCrwiLjamt
— 🌃𝕹𝖚𝖒𝖊𝖗𝖆𝖗𝖈𝖍 (@Numerarch) July 8, 2025
In contrast, another resident living one block from the ICE facility has reportedly opened their apartment to activists involved in the occupation, allowing them to use the space as part of their continued demonstration efforts.
Breaking — DHS police just busted into an apartment unit outside the Portland ICE facility and made an arrest.
The individual who leases the unit has been allowing Antifa to use it as a crash pad. pic.twitter.com/ItBUtPxeKg
— Katie Daviscourt 📸 (@KatieDaviscourt) July 6, 2025
Happening now — I have been staking out the Antifa safehouse near the ICE facility in Portland and captured several black clad militants entering/exiting for shift changes.
One subject exited the unit, put his mask on, and headed down to the ICE office.
This is the… pic.twitter.com/oUaeFRqEh7
— Katie Daviscourt 📸 (@KatieDaviscourt) July 8, 2025
Portland officials have remained committed to the city’s sanctuary status.
The Portland Police Bureau has reiterated that it will not assist ICE in any immigration enforcement activities.
As Homan prepares to visit Portland, ICE has not yet provided further details about the deployment of additional agents.
However, the agency is expected to increase enforcement actions in the area in the coming days.
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