{"slug":"portland-federal-agents-protest-abductions","title":"Portland: Federal Agents in Unmarked Vehicles Abduct Protesters Without Identifying Themselves","date":"2020-07-14","lastUpdated":"2020-07-14","description":"In July 2020, federal agents operating in Portland, Oregon — deployed without the request or consent of state and local authorities — used unmarked vehicles to detain protesters without identifying themselves or stating reasons for arrest, then held them in federal facilities without booking. Oregon's attorney general sued the federal government; the ACLU characterized the tactics as those of an authoritarian state.","summary":"Federal agents from CBP, ICE, BORTAC, and other agencies, deployed by Trump to Portland amid George Floyd protests, began conducting clandestine arrests: pulling protesters into unmarked vans without identifying themselves, not stating reasons for arrest, and holding them in undisclosed locations. Trump's acting DHS secretary and senior officials defended the tactics. Oregon's AG filed suit; federal courts issued temporary restraining orders.","category":"civil-rights","severity":"critical","ongoing":false,"sources":[{"url":"https://www.nytimes.com/2020/07/17/us/politics/trump-portland-protests.html","title":"Federal Agents Push Into Portland Streets, Stretching Limits of Their Authority","publisher":"The New York Times"},{"url":"https://www.aclu.org/news/free-speech/aclu-sues-trump-administration-over-use-of-federal-agents-in-portland","title":"ACLU Sues Trump Administration Over Use of Federal Agents in Portland","publisher":"ACLU"},{"url":"https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-us-news-ap-top-news-politics-a20c1e63f66b88e48d2aeadbf80d4789","title":"Federal officers arresting protesters in unmarked vehicles in Portland","publisher":"The Associated Press"},{"url":"https://www.oregonlive.com/news/2020/07/oregon-attorney-general-sues-federal-government-over-portland-protest-arrests.html","title":"Oregon attorney general sues federal government over Portland protest arrests","publisher":"The Oregonian"},{"url":"https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2020/07/17/portland-protesters-federal-officers/","title":"They were detained by federal officers in unmarked vans. Here's what they say happened.","publisher":"The Washington Post"}],"draft":false,"status":"published","tags":["Portland","federal-overreach","protest","arbitrary-detention","George-Floyd","first-term","BORTAC","unmarked-vans"],"relatedEntries":[],"timeline":[{"date":"2020-07-04","title":"Federal agents deployed to Portland","summary":"The Trump administration deploys a surge of federal agents — including BORTAC border patrol tactical units not trained for domestic law enforcement — to Portland under Operation Diligent Valor, without a request from or agreement with the state of Oregon or city of Portland."},{"date":"2020-07-11","title":"Donavan La Bella struck by impact munition","summary":"Portland protester Donavan La Bella, who was standing outside the federal courthouse holding a speaker above his head, is struck in the face by a federal impact munition. He suffers a fractured skull and undergoes surgery."},{"date":"2020-07-14","title":"First documented unmarked van detention","summary":"Video footage emerges showing a person in camouflage military-style gear with no visible badge or identification being pulled into an unmarked minivan by federal agents. The person was not told why they were being detained."},{"date":"2020-07-17","title":"Oregon AG sues","summary":"Oregon AG Ellen Rosenblum files suit in federal court seeking an emergency restraining order against unidentified federal agents conducting warrantless arrests. She describes the tactics as 'a threat to our democracy.'"},{"date":"2020-07-18","title":"Federal court issues TRO protecting journalists and legal observers","summary":"A federal court issues a temporary restraining order prohibiting federal agents from using force or threats against journalists and legal observers — but not against protesters generally."},{"date":"2020-07-20","title":"Trump threatens to send agents to other cities","summary":"Trump announces plans to send federal agents to Chicago, Philadelphia, Detroit, and other cities with Democratic mayors, calling them 'anarchist jurisdictions.' He frames Portland as a template."},{"date":"2020-07-29","title":"Federal agents begin withdrawal from Portland","summary":"After weeks of escalating clashes and litigation, federal agents begin to draw down their presence in Portland following an agreement brokered with Oregon Governor Brown. The protests and conflicts continue but at reduced intensity."}],"location":{"name":"Portland, Oregon","lat":45.5051,"lng":-122.675},"custom":{"era":"first-term","posture":"judicial-finding","warCrimeClassification":"potential","internationalLaw":[{"statute":"International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights","article":"Article 9","provision":"Liberty and security of person — arbitrary arrest and detention without charge or legal process; prohibition on secret detention"},{"statute":"International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights","article":"Article 21","provision":"Right of peaceful assembly — use of clandestine arrest tactics to suppress peaceful protest"},{"statute":"International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights","article":"Article 14","provision":"Right to a fair hearing — detention without charges or access to counsel"}],"iccRelevance":false,"victims":"Multiple Portland protesters detained by unmarked federal agents without identification; Oregon AG and ACLU documented dozens of cases; one protester struck in the head by impact munitions suffered a fractured skull","structuredVictims":[{"group":"Portland protesters detained without identification or charges","status":"Arrested by unmarked federal agents; held without booking; subjected to force"}],"structuredPerpetrators":[{"name":"Donald Trump","role":"President of the United States — directed federal deployment","institution":"White House"},{"name":"Chad Wolf","role":"Acting Secretary of Homeland Security","institution":"Department of Homeland Security"},{"name":"Ken Cuccinelli","role":"Acting Deputy Secretary of Homeland Security","institution":"Department of Homeland Security"}],"updateLog":[{"date":"2020-07-29","summary":"Updated with federal withdrawal from Portland."}]}}