PORTLAND, Ore. — Residents of an affordable housing complex in Portland have taken drastic measures to protect themselves from tear gas used by federal agents during protests outside the immigration building nearby. Many are wearing gas masks in their own homes, taping windows shut, and using wet towels to block gas from seeping in, with children even sleeping in closets to feel secure.
This Friday, some residents will testify in a federal court regarding their experiences as part of a lawsuit aimed at limiting the use of tear gas by federal officers, which has been a contentious issue in ongoing protests against U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
Filed in December by the building’s property manager and tenants, the lawsuit claims that the federal government has violated residents’ rights—resulting in health issues and contamination of their living environment—through repeated deployment of tear gas and other crowd-control munitions. They are requesting that the court restrict the use of such measures to situations with imminent threat only.
Federal agents, including those from ICE and the Department of Homeland Security, have argued that tear gas is necessary in response to violent protests igniting outside the building, which has been a locus of demonstrations over the past months. However, the case raises broader concerns regarding the appropriateness of aggressive crowd-control tactics by law enforcement, particularly in residential areas.
Documents from the court reveal troubling health impacts reported by residents, including difficulty breathing, headaches, and other respiratory issues, which have led to emergency room visits for some. Notably, one plaintiff, a 72-year-old veteran, suffered severe health effects requiring medical attention.
In light of these developments, the residents are pushing for immediate action to address their grievances, with many sharing harrowing accounts of life under the constant threat of tear gas in their homes. Their plight underscores the necessity of re-evaluating law enforcement practices amid ongoing public outcry and calls for reform.
This Friday, some residents will testify in a federal court regarding their experiences as part of a lawsuit aimed at limiting the use of tear gas by federal officers, which has been a contentious issue in ongoing protests against U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
Filed in December by the building’s property manager and tenants, the lawsuit claims that the federal government has violated residents’ rights—resulting in health issues and contamination of their living environment—through repeated deployment of tear gas and other crowd-control munitions. They are requesting that the court restrict the use of such measures to situations with imminent threat only.
Federal agents, including those from ICE and the Department of Homeland Security, have argued that tear gas is necessary in response to violent protests igniting outside the building, which has been a locus of demonstrations over the past months. However, the case raises broader concerns regarding the appropriateness of aggressive crowd-control tactics by law enforcement, particularly in residential areas.
Documents from the court reveal troubling health impacts reported by residents, including difficulty breathing, headaches, and other respiratory issues, which have led to emergency room visits for some. Notably, one plaintiff, a 72-year-old veteran, suffered severe health effects requiring medical attention.
In light of these developments, the residents are pushing for immediate action to address their grievances, with many sharing harrowing accounts of life under the constant threat of tear gas in their homes. Their plight underscores the necessity of re-evaluating law enforcement practices amid ongoing public outcry and calls for reform.
