Portland, Oregon no longer welcomes a leased ICE detention center

The city of Portland, Oregon, long a focal point of tension with federal authorities, is taking steps to make conditions less favorable for an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention center that has frequently sparked protests.

The Portland City Council recently passed a new ordinance allowing the city to levy fees on the ICE detention center, where confrontations with demonstrators have included the use of tear gas and rubber bullets. The measure passed with a 9-2 vote, signaling a bold stance amid ongoing federal scrutiny and nationwide debates over immigration enforcement.

The ordinance introduces a detention facility impact fee, which will be determined if ICE seeks to extend its lease on the property, set to expire in 2033. It also establishes nuisance fees for the deployment of chemicals and munitions that compromise public health and safety, with specific amounts to be calculated later.

Councilor Angelita Morillo stated, This ordinance is about fairness and responsibility. Our community has long borne the environmental, public health, and safety costs caused by operations outside our control.

While the ordinance applies broadly to any private property leased for detention purposes, it clearly targets ICE. The agency has not yet commented on the new regulation. Tensions have been ongoing at the South Portland ICE office, which Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem visited in October to highlight the city as a site of disorder.

Residents near the facility have raised concerns over chemical exposure and munitions debris, with one nearby charter school relocating due to safety issues. The ICE office has operated under its current lease since 2011, and city investigations have previously examined whether detainees were held longer than permitted under local regulations, which require transfers for extended confinement.

Councilor Olivia Clark, who lives close to the facility, emphasized the citys additional costs for policing and cleanup. I wish there was a way to force the federal government to cover the impact, but this administration is stepping back from responsibility, she said.

Portlands law allows the ordinance to take effect without the mayors signature. Mayor Keith Wilsons office stated that discussions with federal authorities on its implementation are ongoing.

Author: Aiden Foster