Portland, known for its sanctuary city status, will be sending out a land use violation notice on Thursday to a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) building in the area. The facility is being accused of consistently detaining individuals beyond allowed time limits—sparking an ongoing conflict over the property, which has been a hub for prolonged protests, some of which escalated into violence.
The notice serves to initiate a review process to check if the Macadam Avenue site adheres to the stipulations of its 2011 land use permit, specifically the restriction against keeping people overnight or exceeding a 12-hour detention period.
This move was prompted by findings from a local nonprofit organization, which reported that the facility violated the allotted time limit 25 times between October 1 and July 27. The Deportation Data Project compiled this report using information from ICE acquired through the Freedom of Information Act.
The exterior of the building is riddled with anti-ICE graffiti, and numerous confrontations between protestors and federal agents have repeatedly flared up since June. During these incidents, large groups have attempted to block law enforcement vehicles from accessing or leaving the site, leading to agents resorting to deploying rubber bullets, tear gas, and flashbangs to scatter the demonstrators.
Recently, a video showed anti-ICE protestors bringing out a guillotine and clashing with police, which resulted in law enforcement dispersing the crowd with munitions.
In July, Portland’s progressive-leaning city council said it was exploring ways to expel ICE from the detention facility.
Portland’s sanctuary policy prevents city employees, including the police, from enforcing federal immigration laws. Additionally, Oregon’s sanctuary legislation prohibits state and local police from engaging in immigration enforcement activities absent a warrant.
Plywood covers windows at the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility in Portland, Oregon, Sept. 17, 2025. The boarded windows were cited as a separate violation in the city’s notice. (AP Photo/Jenny Kane)
In the wake of violent Labor Day protests, Wilson doubled down on the city’s commitment to sanctuary policies.
“You can rest assured we won’t be engaging with or working with ICE in any circumstances,” he said.
The building is leased and managed by the General Services Administration (GSA) for federal agencies tied to ICE. It includes a processing center where officers detain and interview people to determine their immigration status.
