PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — Six people who were arrested during protests outside a Portland ICE facility on Wednesday and Thursday night appeared in federal court on Friday, authorities said.
Three of the people who appeared in court were accused of assaulting a federal officer, while others were charged with crimes ranging from failing to obey a lawful order and creating a hazard on federal property, the U.S. Department of Justice said.
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“According to court documents and information shared in court, on June 18, 2025, several hundred people gathered near an ICE office in South Portland where, for more than a week, individuals have repeatedly targeted the building and various federal law enforcement officers with mortar fireworks, rocks, bricks, glass bottles, signs, and makeshift shields,” the U.S. DOJ said in a release.
Just after 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, federal officers received word that six vehicles needed to enter the property, which was being blocked by the crowd, prosecutors said. They issued warnings to protesters, asked the group the move, then opened the gates and corralled the crowd from the front of the driveway, authorities said.
Two of the defendants allegedly assaulted officers after being arrested following their refusal to move out of the way for the incoming vehicles.
Later in the night, a similar situation occurred, where federal officers had to move the crowd from in front of the building to make way for more incoming vehicles. Just before 11 p.m., two more of the defendants allegedly refused to move. A fifth defendant then allegedly shone a laser pointer at a federal officer’s eye, temporarily blinding him, officials said.
Then on Thursday night at about 10:20 p.m., several dozen people once again gathered outside the ICE facility. The sixth defendant then allegedly used a drill and screws to affix the plywood doors to the front of the building in an attempt to prevent federal officers inside from exiting.
The six defendants, all accused of various misdemeanor charges, were released after their federal court appearances on Friday on conditions pending further court proceedings, officials said.
