City of Portland set to issue land use violations notice to ICE facility for alleged overcrowding beyond permitted detention limits
Portland's ICE Facility Faces Land Use Violation Notice
Portland's U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility has been issued a land use violation notice by the city. This notice alleges that the facility has detained individuals beyond the limits of its land use approval 25 times over a 10-month period, according to city officials.
The investigation into the ICE facility was initiated by the city's permitting bureau in late July, in response to formal complaints. The most recent of the 25 detention violations occurred on May 20, the city stated.
Under Portland's land use regulations, the facility's conditional land use approval, in place since 2011, does not allow individuals to be kept overnight or held for more than 12 hours. If there is 'substantial evidence of violation,' the city can issue a fine.
The landowners have 30 days after receiving the notice of violation to correct the issue. If the violation is not remedied within this period, the Portland Bureau of Development Services (BDS) is expected to consider a fine within the next 30 days. The city's permitting bureau can also initiate a 'reconsideration' of a land use approval by scheduling a hearing at least 60 days after a notice is given, and decisions from the hearings officer can be appealed to the city council.
The ICE facility has been the site of nightly protests, which peaked in June, with smaller clashes occurring since then. Immigration and legal advocates often gather at the facility during the day to help those arriving, while protesters, often dressed in black and wearing helmets or masks, show up at night.
The protests have drawn the attention of President Donald Trump. Recently, he signed an order to send the National Guard into Memphis, Tennessee, and deployed the National Guard to Los Angeles over the summer and as part of his law enforcement takeover in Washington, D.C.
Portland's Mayor Keith Wilson has accused ICE of breaking detention limitation policies. However, ICE did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
It is worth noting that Portland has a sanctuary policy, under which city employees, including police officers, do not enforce federal immigration law. Oregon also has a sanctuary law that prohibits state and local law enforcement from participating in immigration enforcement without a warrant.
The decline in Portland's violent crime is evident in a recent report from the Major Cities Chiefs Association, which found a 51% decrease in homicides from January through June 2025 compared to the same period in 2024. Most violent crime around the country, including in Portland, has decreased in recent years.
This development comes as the city grapples with ongoing protests and the implications of its sanctuary policy. The city and the ICE facility will continue to be in the spotlight as these issues unfold.
Read also:
- United States tariffs pose a threat to India, necessitating the recruitment of adept negotiators or strategists, similar to those who had influenced Trump's decisions.
- Weekly happenings in the German Federal Parliament (Bundestag)
- Southwest region's most popular posts, accompanied by an inquiry:
- Discussion between Putin and Trump in Alaska could potentially overshadow Ukraine's concerns
