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Costumed Portland Protesters Keep Watch Outside ICE as 9th Circuit Weighs Guard Deployment

All eyes now turn to a pending appeals ruling that could redefine the federal response at the ICE site.

Overview

  • Federal officers detained three people and Portland police made two arrests outside the South Portland ICE facility late Thursday, with pepper balls fired from the roof during the encounters.
  • After hearing arguments Thursday, 9th Circuit judges signaled skepticism of the district court’s block on deploying the Oregon National Guard, with a decision expected as soon as next week.
  • Inflatable animal costumes have become a signature protest tactic, gaining momentum after video showed an agent spraying pepper into the air intake of a frog suit worn by protester Seth Todd.
  • Oregon’s congressional Democrats sent formal letters seeking details on crowd-control munitions, detainee access to counsel and detention lengths, citing reports of at least 25 overnight holds since late 2024.
  • DHS Secretary Kristi Noem escalated rhetoric and pushed for tighter security measures at the site, while local and state officials disputed portrayals of Portland as a 'war zone' and pointed to mostly peaceful, theatrical demonstrations.