'I hope you will come to Portland': Trump Labor Sec urges feds to crack down in Oregon after Antifa attacks on ICE

Trump's Labor Secretary urged President Donald Trump to unleash federal agents on Portland, Oregon, during a White House cabinet meeting on Tuesday, signaling support for intensified immigration enforcement operations in the Democrat-run city known for its sanctuary policies.

US Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer, who previously represented Oregon in Congress, told the president, "In Oregon, where we are expecting a crackdown. Thank you for what you're doing with your agents on ICE. I hope you will come to Portland, Oregon, and crack down."

Chavez-DeRemer then directed her attention to US Attorney General Pam Bondi and stated her support for "prosecutions" in the Pacific Northwest state. Also seated next to Chavez-DeRemer was Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, who controls US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

The secretary's comments came as the ICE facility in southwest Portland has been under siege by black clad protesters, many of whom are affiliated with Antifa networks, for more than 80 days. On June 7, anti-ICE protesters set up an illegal 24-hour occupation outside the facility, which has seen near-nightly clashes between federal agents and demonstrators, many of whom have been arrested and charged with a variety of offenses, including serious violent crimes against federal officers.

The chaos sparked a visit last week from Trump's Border Czar, Tom Homan, who informed ICE agents that the administration had their backs in the wake of ongoing attacks.

The push for a "crackdown" is consistent with President Trump's recent measures to restore public safety in American cities, which have included deploying thousands of National Guard personnel to Washington, DC, and plans to deploy thousands more guardsmen in at least 19 states throughout the country.

Portland, a longstanding sanctuary city, has faced federal scrutiny for policies limiting local cooperation with ICE. Oregon's sanctuary law, in place for decades, has drawn threats from the administration, with Bondi emphasizing potential consequences for non-compliance with federal immigration law.

Despite the Trump administration's threats to freeze federal funds for sanctuary jurisdictions, Portland Mayor Kieth Wilson and Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek, both Democrats, reasserted that the city and state will remain a sanctuary for illegal immigrants.

Since Trump re-entered the White House in January, federal and local law enforcement agencies have arrested around 50 illegal immigrants on drug trafficking charges in and around Portland, which is the nation's poster city for the illicit drug epidemic. ICE ERO Seattle, which oversees Oregon, has also posted dozens of arrests in recent months, with the overwhelming majority being illegal migrants charged and/or convicted of crimes committed in the US.

Chavez-DeRemer, who served on term in Congress representing Oregon's 5th District after her 2022 election, lost her 2024 reelection bid to Democrat Janelle Bynum. She was nominated by Trump for Labor Secretary in November 2024 and confirmed by the Senate in March 2025 with a 67-32 vote.