Officials with the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) have informed protesters with Occupy ICE PDX that they're breaking federal law by camping out in front of a Southwest Portland Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) office.
In a printout distributed to by DHS officials to protesters this morning, DHS cited a federal law that bans people from obstructing "entrances, foyers, lobbies, corridors, offices, and/or parking lots of federal facilities."
"You are not permitted to obstruct the use of the driveway or entrance of the ICE facility located at 4310 SW Macadam Avenue," the statement reads in bold.
DHS showed up and handed out some flyers... do you want to show support? We need people here! Get here ASAP! #OccupyICEPDX #AbolishICE #EndFamilySeparation pic.twitter.com/xrrMPwOR7K
— Abolish I.C.E PDX (@OccupyICEPDX) June 25, 2018
While the note didn't explicitly ask protesters to leave, it hints that the feds are nearing the end of their hands-off response to the ICE protest. Since the protest began on Sunday, June 17, to rally against Donald Trump's new "zero tolerance" immigration policies, federal officials have largely left the group of people alone. The ICE office itself has been shuttered since Wednesday, after a spokesperson for DHS said the protesters presented "safety concerns" for staff. It appears DHS may be reaching a breaking point.
According to Jacob Bureros, a member of the Occupy ICE PDX protest, the handouts have little impact on his participation in the protest.
"Which laws are more important: Breaking a law about obstructing this building or breaking international human rights laws? We're here to uphold the US constitution," he said.
