President Trump is deploying federal troops to Portland, falsely claiming our city is “war ravaged” and under siege. This manufactured crisis is designed to advance a dangerous authoritarian agenda—we all know there is no security threat here. Our governor and mayor received no advance notice of this deployment. Our communities are safe and calm, but we must remain vigilant as US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents and other federal forces arrive in our city.

Additional ICE agents have already arrived at the ICE building downtown. They will likely also be in our communities. Please stay alert. Look for unmarked vehicles, people with face sleeve style masks, and keep each other safe.

Resources and information about what to do if you see ICE in your neighborhood:

Call the Portland Immigrant Rights Coalition Hotline with as many details as you have (including place, time, what you see): https://pircoregon.org/

Know your rights. Follow guidelines on the ACLU of Oregon website: https://www.aclu-or.org/en/know-your-rights-military-troops

We would never discourage defending yourself and your community members. Vulnerable people engaging in self-defense is not violence. It is our strength in conviction and numbers that will protect us. In your actions, please center immigrants and black folks. Check in on our youth and disabled community members.

Here are the statements from the leaders of the Democratic Party of Multnomah County:

“As a first-generation immigrant with a family, I realize this threat is a daily and constant struggle. This administration has already hit first and continues to use kidnapping, force, and financial disinvestment. They have already attacked peaceful protesters in Portland. We need to focus on keeping ourselves and each other safe.”
– Salomé Chimuku, Chair

“As a survivor of this administration’s assaults, I know firsthand they operate without rules, without humility, and without conscience. We must be vigilant, unyielding, and stay dangerous in the face of their authoritarian behavior. The fight against tyranny and fascism demands every tactic at our disposal. Stand together, move as one, and never let them break us.”
– Dre Miller, Vice Chair 1

“There is a silver lining in these events, nothing about today is new. The administration lacks creativity, intelligence, wit, and any knowledge of history.They are following a playbook that was written hundreds of years ago and implemented by every oppressive colonial power and government. Because of that we know the solution to our problem.Collective action. We outnumber the ICE agents and fascists by a factor of 100 or more. If we recognize our shared humanity and work together we are impossible to stop.”
–  Angad Singh, Vice Chair 2

To comment, please email admin@multdems.org.