Federal agents used tear gas in Salem, Oregon, on Saturday morning after roughly 30 protesters blocked ICE vehicles with their own cars. According to Salem police, the agents cleared the crowd and drove away before officers arrived on scene. The department says it had no prior knowledge of the operation and did not coordinate with ICE in any way.
It didn’t end when the vehicles left. Multiple 911 callers reported medical issues tied to the tear gas, including difficulty breathing, and Salem fire crews provided first aid at the scene. The incident is now under investigation, with findings headed to the Oregon Department of Justice and the Department of Homeland Security.
The political reaction came fast. Congresswoman Andrea Salinas accused ICE of reckless actions that endangered innocent people. The incident also follows reports from immigration rights groups of a recent surge in federal detentions and arrests across Oregon, which makes the question of coordination between local and federal agencies more urgent for communities of every size. Should local police always know when federal agents are operating in their city? Tell us where you land on that.
