ICE Agents Accuse Portland, Oregon Mayor of Abetting 'Abolish ICE' Protesters

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents on Monday accused Portland, Oregon mayor Ted Wheeler, of violating the Constitution after emboldening “Abolish ICE” protesters by ordering the police to stand down and openly expressing support for their cause.

The accusations were outlined in a cease-and-desist letter sent to Mayor Wheeler, saying he actively encouraged the protesters and their cause, while making sure Portland’s police wouldn’t crack down on them, thus creating “a zone of terror and lawlessness.”

Portland is among the main centers of the nationwide movement to abolish the federal immigration authority, an idea that is increasingly being embraced by top mainstream Democrats in Congress, including U.S. Sens. Kirsten Gillibrand of New York and Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts.

The city mayor’s support for the movement led to the occupation of a building being used by ICE, harassment of some ICE employees, and the creation of a camp on a city’s land. - The mayor stated publicly that he supported the protests. “To all demonstrators: I urge you to keep up this effort,” Wheeler said in a press conference last week, according to The Oregonian, though advising protesters to vacate the ICE field office and the camp before the police disbands them.  

ICE officers alleged that some agency employees were denied assistance from the police to deal with protesters, including a disabled Marine veteran who was allegedly confronted by an activist as he was picking up his daughter from a camp.

The veteran was interning at the ICE office on the first day of the demonstrations against the agency. After the demonstrators surrounded the ICE field office, he managed to escape but his car was scratched and tires slashed. He was later allegedly followed by the activists, yet his calls for help were reportedly ignored by the police, who told him that they are staying out of the situation.  (Fox news, July 31, 2018)
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Political activists and anti-government protestors in the Pacific Northwest are often very public and very direct with their actions. While these protests are often peaceful, and political activity is generally protected by the First Amendment, there are those who can and do you threats, violence, and intimidation to make a statement.

Police have no duty under the law to protect individuals citizens, but Mayor Wheeler cannot dictate who the police will and will not respond to based on his own political beliefs.