Antifa agitators riot outside Portland ICE facility following Minneapolis shooting of agitator Alex Pretti

Antifa and anti-ICE agitators were seen rioting outside the ICE facility in Portland on Saturday night, as federal agents deployed tear gas and crowd control munitions after a large crowd gathered at the site. The riots came after the death of Alex Pretti in Minneapolis.

Federal agents began using tear gas and other munitions shortly after 9 pm as hundreds formed outside the facility in South Portland. Video from the scene showed agitators launching munitions back toward federal agents as confrontations escalated.

The unrest began earlier in the evening with a rally at Elizabeth Caruthers Park at around 4 pm, which later turned into a march to the ICE facility located just blocks away. The demonstration was organized in response to a deadly shooting in Minneapolis involving a federal agent and a protester.

By nightfall, protesters began crossing a blue line marking the property boundary of the ICE facility. Portland Police warned the crowd not to interfere with the building, saying those who did could be subjected to force, including arrests.

“Good evening. PPB is monitoring a protest near the ICE Facility. We have made announcements asking the crowd to not tamper with the building,” a Portland Police Bureau events account posted on X on Saturday night. “This is the Portland Police. Do not tamper with or barricade the doors to the ICE facility. Anyone tampering with or barricading the doors may be subject to arrest and or use of force. PPB will be making focused arrests for criminal behavior.”

After 9 pm, agents began deploying pepperballs and flash-bang munitions. By 10 pm, police also warned protesters not to block the roadway to allow traffic to pass through the area.

Portland police made four arrests during the chaos, including Evalynn Kotasek, 30, who attempted to pry plywood from the ICE facility. Reginald Macrae, 52, was arrested for allegedly throwing glass candles at officers. Two other individuals were arrested for disorderly conduct after allegedly interfering with a police vehicle while driving by a rally, according to Oregon Live.

Earlier on Saturday, Oregon Governor Tina Kotek held a roundtable with local law enforcement, where she addressed the Minneapolis shooting and the federal response.

“I haven’t had a chance to review but here’s what I would say about the situation in Minnesota, it’s alarming and what we need our federal government to do is de-escalate the situation. And we’re going to continue to see violent interactions regardless of the details because of the escalation of the federal government. They need to pull back on the agents who are there, work with local government and resolve and de-escalate the situation.”

Kotek also stated that the 200 National Guard troops who were initially sent to Portland have since been demobilized.