Anti-ICE non-profit moves into office across the street from Portland ICE facility—with help from city

The City of Portland assisted a controversial anti-ICE organization in securing a vacant office space on the ground floor of an apartment building directly across the street from the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility, which has been under siege by demonstrators, many of whom are involved with Antifa networks, since early June.

The Portland Immigrant Rights Coalition (PIRC), a taxpayer-funded non-governmental organization (NGO), is known for conducting trainings on how to disrupt ICE operations, as well as providing guidance to illegal immigrants on the best practices to evade apprehension by federal authorities.

According to a letter obtained by The Post Millennial, the PIRC moved into a previously vacant office space on the ground floor of Gray's Landing on Monday. Some of its staff members and volunteers have been actively involved in the unlawful 24-hour Antifa occupation outside the ICE facility, and now have an office space just feet away from the occupation.

The City of Portland reportedly played a role in facilitating PIRC's move into Gray's Landing, according to the October 20 letter sent to Gray's Landing residents by REACH CEO Margaret Salazar. REACH is a low-income housing, taxpayer-funded non-profit that operates Gray's Landing.

"We wanted to also make you aware that starting this Monday, an organization called Portland Immigrant Rights Coalition (PIRC) will be operating out of a previously vacant commercial space in the Gray's Landing building. PIRC volunteers work to ensure that individuals with appointments at the ICE field office are informed of their rights and responsibilities, including access to an attorney as part of due process. You may have seen these folks near the ICE facility wearing orange shirts," the letter states.

"PIRC and its volunteers will be working from their own office space on Moody Avenue, and will not have access to the Gray's Landing residential entrance or any Gray's Landing facilities," the letter continues. "They will be present during morning business hours on weekdays, not on evenings or weekends, and are committed to peaceful operations. REACH is partnering with the City of Portland to make this possible, which is a way that our organization can support upholding the rights of community members while also reducing sidewalk and street crowding outside."

The move has sparked controversy due to PIRC's history of advocating against ICE operations and its ties to ongoing protests in the area, which have prompted President Trump to deploy the National Guard to maintain order. PIRC has a hotline to report ICE sightings, which then go out as a call-to-action to disrupt lawful immigration enforcement operations.

The Post Millennial reached out to the City of Portland for comment.