Forest Grove Police Department said it would no longer allow federal officers access to the restrooms "in light of this incident and its impacts upon the public."
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Oregon's Forest Grove Police Department has banned US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) personnel from using its restrooms after caving to pressure from Antifa-affiliated anti-ICE agitators. This comes after an ICE officer entered the police station last week to seek refuge from activists stalking his whereabouts while conducting operations. He needed a safe place to use the restroom, sources familiar with the matter said.
The Forest Grove Police Department said in a statement that the ICE officer did not request any assistance with immigration enforcement and was only escorted to and from the restroom. Still, the department sided with anti-ICE radicals, who turned the kind gesture into outrage, and demanded repercussions. "In light of this incident and its impacts upon the public, the Police Department will no longer allow federal officers or members of the public access to the restrooms in the authorized personnel area of the Police Department," said FGPD.
The situation occurred on October 7 at approximately 8:10 am. Video taken by Kiley Delgado, an anti-ICE Antifa-affiliated rapid responder, shows Delgado entering the Forest Grove Police Station. Delgado tells an employee that she saw an ICE officer walk into the police station. "We're a sanctuary city," said Delgado, adding that officers "are not supposed to be cooperating with ICE."
Moments later, an ICE officer exits a hallway while being escorted by a police officer and leaves the station, according to the video.
Delgado, who has a history of using her vehicle to follow, chase, and obstruct ICE officers conducting operations, uploaded the video to TikTok, which sparked outcry from anti-ICE activists who accused the police department of violating the state's sanctuary policies, or the Sanctuary Promise Act. Demonstrators gathered outside the police department and demanded answers.
"The City of Forest Grove and the Forest Grove Police Department want to assure the public that the City and the Police Department are not assisting or cooperating with any federal immigration enforcement," the department continued in its statement. "The Police Department's practice has been to allow community members and other law enforcement officers to use the Police Department’s restrooms upon request and with an escort from a member of the Police Department. However, the City and the Police Department understand that this incident has caused members of the community concern the Police Department is working with or cooperating with federal immigration enforcement."
During an October 12 city council meeting, Delgado, who does not reside in Forest Grove and whose husband, Karim Delgado, is currently running for Hillsboro city council, demanded that any police officer involved with allowing the ICE officer into the facility be held "accountable." Delgado also stated that she entered the station just "10 seconds" behind the officer, which likely means that she had been stalking his whereabouts.
Beth Gently, who leads the progressive "Indivisible" group in Forest Grove, also shared concerns. She said that Forest Grove Police Chief David Marzilli acknowledged the "error," but initially backed the gesture and reportedly stated that it "demonstrated small town values."
Gently then went on an unhinged rant about ICE. "Small town values were violated when a public safety officer offered aid, comfort, and laughing friendly chit-chat to an agent who directly threatens our neighbors and friends," said Gently. "People in Forest Grove are rightly terrified of ICE agents who are masked, undertrained, violent, trigger-happy kidnappers, dragging people to concentration camps...Allowing small-town friendly support to an ICE agent was, at best, deeply tone-deaf."
Mayor Malynda Wenzl issued a statement and apologized to the community for the police department's actions that she said created "fear" and "mistrust."
ICE supporters fumed on social media, slamming the police department for caving to Antifa-affiliated radicals instead of supporting their federal law enforcement partners.
The Post Millennial reached out to ICE for comment.
The Forest Grove Police Department said in a statement that the ICE officer did not request any assistance with immigration enforcement and was only escorted to and from the restroom. Still, the department sided with anti-ICE radicals, who turned the kind gesture into outrage, and demanded repercussions. "In light of this incident and its impacts upon the public, the Police Department will no longer allow federal officers or members of the public access to the restrooms in the authorized personnel area of the Police Department," said FGPD.
The situation occurred on October 7 at approximately 8:10 am. Video taken by Kiley Delgado, an anti-ICE Antifa-affiliated rapid responder, shows Delgado entering the Forest Grove Police Station. Delgado tells an employee that she saw an ICE officer walk into the police station. "We're a sanctuary city," said Delgado, adding that officers "are not supposed to be cooperating with ICE."
Moments later, an ICE officer exits a hallway while being escorted by a police officer and leaves the station, according to the video.
Delgado, who has a history of using her vehicle to follow, chase, and obstruct ICE officers conducting operations, uploaded the video to TikTok, which sparked outcry from anti-ICE activists who accused the police department of violating the state's sanctuary policies, or the Sanctuary Promise Act. Demonstrators gathered outside the police department and demanded answers.
"The City of Forest Grove and the Forest Grove Police Department want to assure the public that the City and the Police Department are not assisting or cooperating with any federal immigration enforcement," the department continued in its statement. "The Police Department's practice has been to allow community members and other law enforcement officers to use the Police Department’s restrooms upon request and with an escort from a member of the Police Department. However, the City and the Police Department understand that this incident has caused members of the community concern the Police Department is working with or cooperating with federal immigration enforcement."
During an October 12 city council meeting, Delgado, who does not reside in Forest Grove and whose husband, Karim Delgado, is currently running for Hillsboro city council, demanded that any police officer involved with allowing the ICE officer into the facility be held "accountable." Delgado also stated that she entered the station just "10 seconds" behind the officer, which likely means that she had been stalking his whereabouts.
Beth Gently, who leads the progressive "Indivisible" group in Forest Grove, also shared concerns. She said that Forest Grove Police Chief David Marzilli acknowledged the "error," but initially backed the gesture and reportedly stated that it "demonstrated small town values."
Gently then went on an unhinged rant about ICE. "Small town values were violated when a public safety officer offered aid, comfort, and laughing friendly chit-chat to an agent who directly threatens our neighbors and friends," said Gently. "People in Forest Grove are rightly terrified of ICE agents who are masked, undertrained, violent, trigger-happy kidnappers, dragging people to concentration camps...Allowing small-town friendly support to an ICE agent was, at best, deeply tone-deaf."
Mayor Malynda Wenzl issued a statement and apologized to the community for the police department's actions that she said created "fear" and "mistrust."
ICE supporters fumed on social media, slamming the police department for caving to Antifa-affiliated radicals instead of supporting their federal law enforcement partners.
The Post Millennial reached out to ICE for comment.
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