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() Ongoing protests outside an ICE facility in Portland, Oregon, have cast a spotlight on the city as the Trump administration looks to prevent what he calls left-wing groups from committing acts of violence.
On Thursday, Trump signed a memorandum launching a new federal strategy to combat organized political violence and domestic terrorism through expanded investigations, prosecutions and financial crackdowns. The new strategy follows the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk and seeks to target groups like antifa, which was recently designated a “domestic terrorist organization.”
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Since June, demonstrators have been protesting daily outside a federal ICE detention facility in Portland. Among the demonstrators have been antifascist activists. These protests have at times turned violent, with crowds throwing rocks and launching fireworks at agents and towards the windows of the facility.
Earlier in September, protesters rolled out a replica guillotine in front of this ICE facility. In response, the Department of Homeland Security posted on X, “The American people gave us a clear mandate to secure the homeland. In Portland and across America, threats, lies, and vile attacks will not alter our course.”
“When you go out to Portland and you see what’s happening in Portland, this is like nobody’s ever seen anything like it every night, and this has gone on for years. They just burn the place down,” Trump said. “These are professional agitators. These are bad people, and they’re paid a lot of money by rich people, some of whom we know.”
On Tuesday, antifa put out a flyer obtained by , that calls for activists to gather at the Eugene Federal building where authorities recently made arrests during a night of unrest. The flyer reads, “Portland in solidarity with Eugene. We are everywhere. Squad up. Make travel plans. Bring PPE and your unhinged Portland energy.”
Antifa’s targeting of ICE facilities and federal buildings comes as the Department of Homeland Security announces that the agency will be increasing security at ICE facilities across the country. This follows a deadly shooting at a Dallas ICE facility on Wednesday. According to the agency, the ICE officers are facing “more than a 1,000% increase in assaults against them.”
In addition to targeting federal agents and law enforcement, antifa activists have also attacked journalists on occasion who attempt to cover the group’s violence and tactics during protests. Andy Ngo, a senior editor at The Post Millennial, was assaulted by Antifa in Portland while reporting on the group. His assault was caught on camera and he had to seek treatment at a hospital.
“They chased me down, tackled me to the concrete. That caused a ligament in one of my legs to tear I was drenched in blood, they tried to choke me out,” Ngo said. “These are anarchist communists and their ultimate goal revolution, to overthrow the U.S. government.”
Antifa activists are expected to continue protesting outside the Portland ICE facility Friday night.