ICE barricades DC headquarters to block protester ‘occupation’
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers barricaded an employee and visitor entrance Wednesday to prevent activists from performing an “occupation” of the agency’s D.C. headquarters.
Several dozen activists had intended to enter the building to protest Trump administration deportation and border detention policies, but arrived to find temporary fencing and a line of officers blocking their way.
Amid heavy rain, activists chanted slogans anyhow, including “quit your jobs!” at Department of Homeland Security guards and ICE employees who peered from windows.
The protest was organized by Movimiento Cosecha and was advertised in a press release as a demonstration by “undocumented activists and allies,” as similar protests occur in other cities.
Anti-ICE protesters chant "quit your jobs" pic.twitter.com/5DCkbniBwQ
— Steven Nelson (@stevennelson10) June 27, 2018
Participants generally were reluctant to speak with reporters, directing journalists to Cosecha spokeswoman Alejandra, who declined to offer her last name.
Alejandra, an immigrant from Mexico, told the Washington Examiner that her mother and brothers illegally crossed the border, allowing her to sympathize with children separated from parents under “zero tolerance” policies, which President Trump has temporarily modified.
9 arrests as federal police clear entrance to Portland ICE building
PORTLAND, Ore. — Nine people were arrested Thursday morning after federal officers in riot gear moved in to clear the entrance to the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement holding facility in Southwest Portland.
The ICE facility has been closed since Wednesday, June 20 after the protest group, calling themselves Occupy ICE PDX, set up camp with the goal of shutting down the immigration enforcement agency.
“At approximately 5:30 a.m. today, federal law enforcement officers initiated a law enforcement action to reopen the federal facility at 4310 SW Macadam Avenue in Portland,” Federal Protective Service spokesman Robert Sperling said in a prepared statement.
Agents interrupt news interview with whistleblower…
Agents from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) interrupted an interview with a former Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE) spokesman on Wednesday.
CBS News reported that it was speaking with James Schwab about his decision to resign a few months earlier when DHS agents arrived at his home.
WATCH: Our interview with former @ICEgov spokesperson James Schwab was interrupted by a surprise visit from government agents.@JamieYuccas reports ➡️ t.co/QlDGflrdP4 pic.twitter.com/4shmAqutD8
— CBS This Morning (@CBSThisMorning) June 28, 2018