PORTLAND, Ore. — Portland's city administration announced plans to issue a land use violation notice to the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement building. According to city officials, the facility has reportedly detained individuals beyond the parameters of its land use approval, which has been in effect since 2011. The approval stipulates that individuals cannot be detained overnight or held for longer than 12 hours, a provision the city claims was violated 25 times over a ten-month period from October 2024 to July 2025.
Mayor Keith Wilson stated, “U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement made clear detention limitation commitments to our community, and we believe they broke those policies more than two dozen times.” He commended the city's team for their rigorous investigation into the matter, adding that steps would be taken to proceed with the violation process.
The land use violation notice is expected to be formally issued on Thursday, though ICE officials did not respond to requests for comment. The facility has recently been a focal point of nightly protests, which have swelled since mid-June. Activists have gathered to offer support during the day, while nightfall brings protesters, some clad in black and wearing masks, to demonstrate against the ICE’s immigration detentions.
While these protests are disruptive to nearby residents, they diverge from the more extensive racial justice protests seen in the city in 2020. These ongoing demonstrations have also gained the attention of President Donald Trump, who has hinted at sending federal troops to address the unrest, paralleling his previous responses to crime in other cities.
Under Portland’s sanctuary policies, city officials, including police, are prohibited from enforcing federal immigration law, and the state has similar mandates. The Portland permitting bureau commenced an investigation into the ICE facility in late July following formal complaints, utilizing public records data that indicated ongoing violations. Following the receipt of the violation notice, landowners will have a 30-day period to address the issues before potential fines may be imposed. Furthermore, the city’s permitting bureau has the authority to schedule hearings for reconsideration of land use approvals, providing the community a platform for appeals to decisions from officers.
Mayor Keith Wilson stated, “U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement made clear detention limitation commitments to our community, and we believe they broke those policies more than two dozen times.” He commended the city's team for their rigorous investigation into the matter, adding that steps would be taken to proceed with the violation process.
The land use violation notice is expected to be formally issued on Thursday, though ICE officials did not respond to requests for comment. The facility has recently been a focal point of nightly protests, which have swelled since mid-June. Activists have gathered to offer support during the day, while nightfall brings protesters, some clad in black and wearing masks, to demonstrate against the ICE’s immigration detentions.
While these protests are disruptive to nearby residents, they diverge from the more extensive racial justice protests seen in the city in 2020. These ongoing demonstrations have also gained the attention of President Donald Trump, who has hinted at sending federal troops to address the unrest, paralleling his previous responses to crime in other cities.
Under Portland’s sanctuary policies, city officials, including police, are prohibited from enforcing federal immigration law, and the state has similar mandates. The Portland permitting bureau commenced an investigation into the ICE facility in late July following formal complaints, utilizing public records data that indicated ongoing violations. Following the receipt of the violation notice, landowners will have a 30-day period to address the issues before potential fines may be imposed. Furthermore, the city’s permitting bureau has the authority to schedule hearings for reconsideration of land use approvals, providing the community a platform for appeals to decisions from officers.
