Oregon Protests: Judge Limits Tear Gas Use Near ICE Facility

Demonstrators gather outside the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement building in Portland, Oregon.

PORTLAND, Oregon – February 3, 2026

Federal Court Limits Tear Gas Deployment at Portland Protests

A judge issued a temporary restriction on federal officers’ use of tear gas against demonstrators near the ICE building.

• A federal judge in Oregon temporarily restricted the use of tear gas by federal officers.
• The restriction applies to protests at the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement building in Portland.
• The ruling came days after agents deployed tear gas against what local officials described as a peaceful crowd, including children.

A federal judge in Oregon on Tuesday temporarily restricted federal officers from deploying tear gas against protesters gathered at the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement building in Portland. This decision arrives shortly after federal agents used tear gas on a crowd of demonstrators, a group local officials characterized as peaceful and which included young children. The air hung thick with the acrid smell of the gas, a stark reminder of escalating tensions.

Concerns Over Use of Force

The temporary restriction comes as scrutiny mounts over the tactics employed by federal law enforcement during recent demonstrations. Local officials voiced strong objections to the use of tear gas, particularly given the presence of children within the crowd. The deployment sparked immediate criticism and raised questions about the proportionality of the response.

What is the primary concern regarding the use of tear gas? The main concern centers on the potential harm to peaceful protesters, especially vulnerable individuals like children, and whether the use of force was justified in the given circumstances.

Details regarding the specific circumstances leading to the tear gas deployment remain under review. However, the judge’s ruling underscores a growing concern about the potential for excessive force during protests and the need to protect the rights of demonstrators. The situation highlights the delicate balance between maintaining public order and safeguarding constitutional freedoms.

The judge’s order is temporary, and further legal proceedings are expected to determine the long-term restrictions on the use of tear gas by federal officers in Portland. The case is likely to fuel ongoing debates about immigration enforcement tactics and the appropriate level of force during protests.