‘Out of control’: U.S. border czar to ramp up ICE enforcement in Portland amid staff safety concerns

Multiple people were arrested on the Fourth of July outside the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) office in Portland, The Oregonian reported Monday.

As threats persist against the Portland office, White House border czar Tom Homan said a visit and increased enforcement are necessary, as he believes Portland is “out of control.”

“Our support staff, clerical staff, administrative staff — they’re not trained law enforcement officers. And you would think the local Portland PD would protect them when they’re leaving work and driving to their home and being followed by these anarchists. But Portland PD doesn’t assist, and we’re going to ramp up enforcement personnel there,” Homan told KTTH host Jason Rantz.

U.S. border czar to visit Portland for increased ICE enforcement

Homan plans to visit the Portland office within the next five or six days to show staff they’re not alone and facilitate an extra layer of security.

“The president has your back. Secretary’s got your back. I’ve got your back,” he added. “We’ll send whatever resources we need to send here to number one, do the job that the president wants you to do, and I want you to do, and give you enough resources out here to protect you and your families.”

With 22 people facing federal charges from anti-ICE protests in Portland, Homan said the U.S. Attorney’s Office is “fully engaged” and is pushing a “zero tolerance policy.”

“You can protest ICE, you have that First Amendment right. You can hate ICE. You can scream and yell at them. You cannot support them. However, you can’t cross that line,” Homan added. “You can’t cross the line of knowingly harboring, concealing an illegal alien from ICE — that’s a felony. And you certainly can’t put your hands on an ICE officer.”

Rantz pointed out that Portland police officers are not getting involved because they are ordered not to respond, as Portland is a sanctuary city.

“Thanks for clarifying that, because those officers of Portland PD, they want to do the right thing,” Homan replied.

Homan warns of prosecution as SPD officers reportedly leak ICE raids

Rantz also shared that he spoke with the local director of ICE in Seattle, who said there are leaks coming from the Seattle Police Department and other Washington police departments regarding ICE raids.

“Is there going to be any kind of punishment for this kind of behavior in Seattle or elsewhere?” Rantz asked.

“If we can prove someone impedes our law enforcement efforts, we will seek prosecution of the U.S. Attorney,” Homan responded. “Zero tolerance, I don’t care who you are. And remember the left said for four years, no one’s above the law. President Trump isn’t above the law. But guess what? Neither are they. You impede law enforcement, you impede ICE from doing their job — we will seek prosecution. Zero tolerance.”

Listen to the full conversation below.

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