Portland Mayor Keith Wilson directed the removal of police tape around a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility, defying a federal request to maintain a perimeter. The action followed a visit by Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem amid ongoing tensions. Local officials cited public safety decisions in response to federal demands.
On Tuesday, October 7, 2025, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem visited an ICE facility in Portland, Oregon, where authorities had cordoned off the area with police tape, as noted by Portland Police Bureau Chief Bob Day.
The following day, Wednesday, Mayor Keith Wilson ordered the removal of the tape, according to a report from oregonlive.com. This move came despite a directive from U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon Scott Bradford, who messaged Chief Day stating that "all federal officers must be able to come and go from the ICE office without harassment or hindrance" and that "Portland must create a perimeter around the ICE office." Bradford specified the perimeter should be "at least as large as the perimeter state and local police set up today for the Secretary's visit."
In response, Mayor Wilson messaged DHS General Counsel James Percival, noting: "You have requested that federal officers be able to ingress and egress from the Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility without hindrance. The Mayor and our local public safety professionals will continue to evaluate the situation on the ground, and they will continue to make public order decisions based on what they believe will be in the best interest of Portland and our community."
The incident occurs amid broader federal-local tensions. Last month, President Donald Trump called for National Guard deployment to Portland via a September Truth Social post: "At the request of Secretary of Homeland Security, Kristi Noem, I am directing Secretary of War, Pete Hegseth, to provide all necessary Troops to protect War ravaged Portland, and any of our ICE Facilities under siege from attack by Antifa, and other domestic terrorists. I am also authorizing Full Force, if necessary." However, the plan has faced legal challenges.
Fox News Digital sought comments from the U.S. Attorney's Office and the City of Portland but received no immediate response.