PORTLAND: Federal judge grants temporary restraining order against ICE use of chemical munitions

The ACLU filed a lawsuit against ICE officers claiming the use of excessive force, a federal judge agrees

PORTLAND – On Tuesday, U.S. District Court Judge Michael Simon ruled in favor of a temporary restraining order against the use of excessive chemical weapons by Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers in Portland. The decision came after the American Civil Liberties Union partnered with Singleton Schreiber to pursue legal action against the officers, claiming excessive force. 

The ACLU and its partners were able to compile approximately 40 declarations of witnesses who claimed to have seen excessive force being used with chemical weapons. According to KATU, Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin responded to the claims on behalf of the Department of Homeland Security. McLaughlin stated that both on Jan. 24 and Jan. 30, ICE officers were met with 250 to 500 “rioters.” Despite these claims, the Portland Police Bureau did not declare either protest a riot. 

“Instead of calling for ICE officers to resign, Mayor Wilson should be grateful to our brave law enforcement officers for cleaning up the streets of Portland by arresting criminal illegal aliens—not bashing them online and peddling false narratives about them,” McLaughlin said to KATU. “This garbage is contributing to ICE officers facing a 1300% increase in assaults against them as they put their lives on the line every day to defend the lives of American citizens.”

The order has not yet taken place, although Judge Simon has ordered ICE officers to pause the use of chemical munitions until a decision is made.