When Silence Endangers: What's Not Happening in Portland, Oregon

In Portland, Oregon, the voices against safety aren't just loud they're violent. For over 100 consecutive nights, the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility has been under siege. Bottle rockets, shattered windows, lasers aimed officers' eyes, and barricades blocking federal vehicles have replaced peaceful protest. And yet, the local police response? Often missing or delayed in arriving to assist. Not because they weren't aware but because they were told to STAND DOWN.

Cammila Wamsley, director of Portland's ICE office, described the situation bluntly: "We get frustrated watching people attacked on the street and knowing that we cannot really step in unless there's some nexus to federal law". That frustration is shared by many who believe in law, order, and the basic right to feel safe at work and at home.

What's not happening in Portland?

• Local police protection. Despite ongoing violence, Portland Police have been largely absent, reportedly under guidance from the Mayor and City Council.
• Accountability for violent actors. While federal agents have made arrests, local enforcement has been slow or nonexistent even when ICE employees are doxed or followed home.
• Equal enforcement of protest standards. Peaceful protests elsewhere in Portland receive support and monitoring. But near the ICE facility, chaos is tolerated, and federal staff are left vulnerable.
• Public outrage from city leadership. Instead of condemning violence, Portland's leaders have redirected police overtime toward other priorities, leaving federal facilities exposed.  

This matter transcends politics and centers on public safety. When elected officials opt for inaction rather than safeguarding citizens, it empowers individuals who exploit protests for malicious purposes. When law enforcement is directed to disregard such actions, the integrity of the rule of law is compromised. Furthermore, when federal employees are subjected to stalking, threats, and attacks without repercussions, it conveys a deeply concerning message: that certain lives are deemed less deserving of protection.