ICE director says Portland facility faces violence with ‘little help from local police’

Federal immigration agents in Portland, Oregon, have reported experiencing nightly assaults at their facility, citing a lack of support from local law enforcement due to directives from city officials. Local police have provided minimal assistance, according to federal authorities.

In comments made during an exclusive interview with Fox News, Cammila Wamsley, the director of the ICE office in Portland, revealed that the facility has endured violent incidents for over 100 consecutive nights, with Portland police largely absent due to policies set by the mayor and city council. She described the situation as increasingly alarming.

“I am perplexed by the situation at the facility. It’s incredibly frustrating to witness federal personnel being assaulted outside while the officers inside are unable to take action,” Wamsley expressed. She lamented the lack of authority to respond unless there is a direct link to federal law. “It’s disheartening to see individuals attacked on the street when we lack the means to intervene effectively,” she added.

Wamsley mentioned that protests have escalated beyond mere signs and chants, revealing that the ICE building has been targeted with bottle rockets, rocks breaking windows, and lasers aimed at officers. She reported that demonstrators have even followed staff members home and publicly disclosed the personal information of at least six employees.

“As it gets later in the evening, groups of individuals dressed in black appear with the intent to cause chaos. They block our vehicles, vandalize property, and even attempt to follow our personnel home,” she elaborated.

Wamsley cautioned that when crowds rapidly increase, the potential for violence heightens significantly. “We’ve witnessed this escalation before. A gathering can swell from 50 to over 1,000 in a matter of 30 minutes,” she explained. “With only 20 officers present, our ability to protect the building is severely compromised.”

Despite the increasing violence, Wamsley stated that the Portland Police Department has been slow to respond—or in some cases, has not responded at all—due to city policies regarding such situations. She noted that assaults have taken place close by, but police have either taken too long to arrive or not shown up at all.

“This is not how they would respond six blocks away, but this is their approach here at the ICE facility due to directives from the city’s leadership,” Wamsley stated.

Fox News Digital has attempted to contact the office of the Portland mayor and the police department for their comments on the situation.

Nevertheless, Wamsley reaffirmed that ICE personnel remain dedicated to their mission despite the unrest. “Our team is committed to serving the American public. We are here to uphold the same immigration laws that have been in place since the 1950s. Our operations continue unabated, and we will persist in doing our job,” she stated.

Todd Rignel, assistant special agent for Homeland Security Investigations in Oregon, remarked that federal agencies are directing their focus on Antifa-linked groups, which they accuse of orchestrating much of the unrest.

“These groups are not only contending with HSI; they face scrutiny from the FBI, ATF, DEA, and IRS—this constitutes a formidable coalition,” he remarked.

The city of Portland continues to be a hotspot for unrest, with the ICE facility at the center of relentless confrontations.

President Donald Trump has announced plans to deploy 200 National Guard troops to Portland to support immigration enforcement efforts, stating that the troops will be stationed in proximity to protest areas.

This comes in the wake of a recent attack on an ICE facility in Dallas on September 24, where it was reported that two detainees lost their lives and another was hospitalized following a shooting incident, after which the gunman reportedly took his own life. Investigators have indicated that shell casings discovered at the scene bore a message reading “ANTI-ICE.”