Agents tear-gas protesters after group blocks ICE vehicles

SALEM, Ore. (KPTV/Gray News) - A group of protesters confronted federal agents working with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement in Oregon on Saturday morning, according to police.

At 9:30 a.m., federal agents reported to the Salem Police Department that about 30 people had surrounded their vehicles and were blocking them in with cars near Lancaster Drive Northeast and Sunnyview Road Northeast.

While Salem officers were on their way to the area, agents told police they had cleared the crowd using tear gas and driven away.

Meanwhile, 911 received multiple calls about people suffering from tear gas-related medical issues, including difficulty breathing.

Once at the scene, police and crews with the Salem Fire Department gave people first aid and then began investigating the incident, according to police. That information will then be passed on to the Oregon Department of Justice and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

“Salem Police Officers had no prior knowledge of the activity in this incident and did not coordinate in any way with Immigration and Customs Enforcement,” Salem police said. “Our officers respond to disturbances such as this solely to de-escalate, provide medical aid when necessary, and collect evidence so that the appropriate oversight agencies can conduct their review.”

Congresswoman Andrea Salinas issued a statement on Saturday afternoon, in which she says ICE operations are not making Oregon communities safer.

“ICE’s actions today were reckless and needlessly endangered innocent people. As part of today’s operations, ICE deployed pepper spray, pepper balls, and smoke canisters against the elderly and children. They followed and harassed U.S. citizens, and they drove recklessly with a blatant disregard for the safety of other drivers. At one point, they shut down 99E and nearly caused several accidents,” Salinas said in her statement.

This comes after immigration rights groups and advocates reported a recent surge in detentions and arrests by federal agents across Oregon.