Bonamici, Wyden, Merkley, Dexter Demand Answers about Portland ICE Facility

WASHINGTON DC [10/9/25] - Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01) led Oregon Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley and Maxine Dexter (OR-03) demanding that the Trump administration provide answers about the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility in Portland.

The requests follow the lawmakers' visit to the ICE facility on S. Macadam Avenue on September 25, when ICE officials failed to thoroughly respond to lawmakers' questions, including questions about detainments and processing, tactics used by the Federal Protective Service, and access to counsel in immigration hearings.

"We received conflicting information from ICE staff, and we remain extremely concerned about civil and human rights violations occurring at the facility," the lawmakers wrote to the ICE regional office in Seattle. "We are deeply concerned by the lack of oversight and accountability of ICE agents, including those operating out of the Macadam facility."

The full text of the letter to ICE on detainments and processes at the facility can be found hereand below.

The full text of the letter to Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem on tactics used by Federal Protective Service at the facility can be found hereand below.

The full text of the letter to Attorney General Pam Bondi on access to counsel and immigration hearings can be found hereand below.

Dear Mr. Johnson:

Thank you for coordinating the visit to the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility in downtown Portland on September 25, 2025. The facility tour and meeting with ICE staff was very informative, and today we write to follow up on several items that we discussed during the visit. We received conflicting information from ICE staff, and we remain extremely concerned about civil and human rights violations occurring at the facility.

We are deeply concerned by the lack of oversight and accountability of ICE agents, including those operating out of the Macadam facility. There are multiple instances of agents breaking car windows and ripping people from their vehicles, holding knives to people's necks, and shoving bystanders to the ground. In addition to this unnecessary violence and use of force, ICE agents hide their identities by wearing masks and do not have visible identification or badge numbers. This poses a serious safety concern and makes the entire community less safe. We also heard about changes being made to expeditiously hire new ICE agents at the facility, including compressing the training. In addition to unnecessary aggression perpetuated by ICE agents, we are concerned about how new agents with less training might further escalate tensions in the community.

Because of the scale of immigration enforcement operations in Oregon and the lack of transparency around DHS and ICE procedures under the current Trump administration, we demand answers to the following questions:

1. What is the current process to initiate an initial review of a bond request at Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO)? Who at ERO is responsible for initial reviews of requests for bond?
2. What criteria is used to determine which requests for bond will be sent forward or denied? Please provide any directives that outline these criteria.
3. Of the total number of detained noncitizens who have come through the facility since January 2025, how many bond requests have been approved and how many have been denied?
4. We have seen reports that individuals with legal status have been detained. What criteria have agents been given to determine who to detain?
5. There are several instances of immigrants with documented medical and health concerns or who were recovering from surgery who were summarily deported. What standards are used to determine medical clearance for deportation? Please provide a copy of those standards.
6. Masked ICE agents are unidentifiable in our communities and hide their identities. This raises significant safety concerns. How are you holding your staff accountable for negligence and unnecessary violence if ICE agents do not have identification or badge numbers visible?
7. We understand that hiring for the community relations position at the Macadam facility has been challenging. What plans are in place to hire a Community Relations staff for the Macadam facility?
8. There are multiple reports of ICE staff harassing volunteers outside of the facility. What training are staff receiving on carrying out community enforcement? What plans are in place to guarantee that newly hired staff are adequately trained on a condensed timeline?
9. How are you complying with Americans with Disabilities Act requirements and working to make sure people with mobility issues are able to access the facility for appointments?

Thank you for your attention to this letter and we look forward to your prompt response.

Dear Secretary Noem:

On September 25, 2025, members of the Oregon congressional delegation visited the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility in downtown Portland on S. Macadam Avenue. The facility tour and meeting with ICE staff was very informative. Today we write to follow up on several items that were discussed during the visit. We remain extremely concerned about civil and human rights violations by Federal Protective Service (FPS) at the facility.

More than a dozen advocates outside the facility have reported unprovoked attacks by Homeland Security police and FPS officers, leaving people with large bruises, chemical burns, and lingering pain. The Portland Police Bureau reported that federal police shoved, hit, and used chemical spray on people outside the facility when, according to multiple witnesses, there was no physical threat to officers. Additionally, a Portland Police Bureau Assistant Chief said in a court filing that federal police are instigating some of the clashes. These allegations are unacceptable. It is the responsibility of FPS to protect federal persons and property.^[1]In June, the President issued a Presidential Memoranda calling at least 2,000 members of the National Guard into Federal service under the false premise that they are needed to "temporarily protect ICE and other United States Government personnel performing Federal functions."^[2]

Over the weekend, federal law enforcement escalated their tactics against demonstrators outside of Macadam facility, including firing tear gas and smoke canisters, pepper spraying peaceful protestors in the face, and deploying pepper bullets. These attacks initiated by FPS and other federal law enforcement are unacceptable.

We demand additional clarity about the response from your agents at the ICE Macadam facility:

1. What type of munitions are used against people collected outside of the Macadam facility? Please provide a detailed description.
2. What criteria is used to determine whether or not to use munitions against people outside the facility? How do you decide what tools to use at different times of day? Who makes those determinations?
3. There have been several reports of Federal Protective Services Agents instigating violent altercations with peaceful protesters outside the Macadam facility. How does FPS determine when to engage with protestors? What criteria is used to make these determinations? Are there protocols in place to hold FPS accountable when they use unnecessary force?
4. Neighbors and businesses near the Macadam facility have reported lingering substances in the air causing health concerns. How are you working with neighbors and businesses around the facility to reduce negative consequences of these substances?

Thank you for your attention to this letter. We look forward to hearing from you by October 22, 2025.

Dear Attorney General Bondi:

On September 25, 2025, members of the Oregon congressional delegation visited the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility in downtown Portland on S. Macadam Avenue. The facility tour and meeting with ICE staff was very informative. Today we write to follow up on several items that were discussed during the visit. We remain extremely concerned about due process violations by ICE staff and attorneys.

The Fifth Amendment of the United States Constitution guarantees the right to due process, regardless of immigration status, and the Immigration and Nationality Act outlines the right to counsel in any removal proceedings.^[3]Due process is a cornerstone of American democracy that is currently being eroded. When a person's rights are violated, the result can be wrongful deportations.

Community organizations are reporting that some immigrants are being denied access to counsel at the Macadam facility. During our meeting at the ICE facility, we repeatedly asked for clarification about why individuals in detention have been denied access to counsel and were not provided with an adequate response. Because of the scale of immigration enforcement operations in Oregon and the lack of transparency around DHS and ICE procedures under the current Trump administration, we demand answers to the following questions:

1. What pre-representation support is allowed at the Macadam facility?
   1. Do you allow attorneys to enter the Macadam facility to conduct pre-representational interviews?
   2. Do you ever deny attorneys access to the facility to conduct pre-representational interviews? If so, under what circumstances and what authority?
2. The U.S. Constitution guarantees the right to due process and the law allows the right to an attorney. On what grounds are you denying counsel to individuals in custody?
3. What is the protocol staff follow when someone in ICE custody at the Macadam facility requests a lawyer?
4. What options are available for individuals seeking virtual immigration hearings? Are these ever granted? If not, on what grounds are those requests denied?
5. How long do removal proceeding hearings typically last?
6. Which personnel are allowed into immigration hearings (ICE staff, DOJ staff, attorneys, etc.)?

Thank you for your attention to this letter and we look forward to your prompt response.

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