Protesters in Oregon attempted to derail ICE from arresting two illegal immigrants Wednesday night, forcing a confrontation with federal agents.
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement said the two targets had histories of “criminal violent behavior” that made them valid targets for enforcement out in the community.
But protesters in Bend, several hours from Portland, insisted they were a sanctuary and that the feds needed to prove the arrests to them, according to news reports.
The confrontation lasted a couple of hours with protesters blocking ICE buses. Agents eventually transferred the arrestees to other vehicles and the protests dissipated, news reports said.
“The law enforcement activity in Bend, Oregon is part of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s mission to arrest criminal aliens presenting a danger to public safety and take them off the street,” ICE said in a statement.
The agency added: “While ICE respects the rights of people to voice their opinion peacefully, that does not include illegally interfering with their federal law enforcement duties. ICE will take all necessary measures to ensure the safety of its officers and detainees, and will vigorously pursue prosecution against anyone who puts them in harm’s way.”
The confrontation comes even as riots still rage nightly in Portland, where demonstrators first targeted federal officers and have now turned their ire on local police.
Protesters chanted “Let them go!” as they blocked the buses.
Local police said they had been alerted ICE would be conducting some operation but weren’t told the details.
