Another Portland protest turned dangerous Wednesday night after demonstrators attempted to set fire to the federal ICE building in South Portland. According to Portland Police, the incident escalated just before 10 p.m. when officers observed a man stacking flammable materials against the exterior of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility.
A second person reportedly approached and lit the pile with a flare, sparking a blaze that could have caused serious damage if not for the quick action of someone inside the building, who managed to extinguish the fire before it spread.
Portland, OR ICE protests 6-11-25 @inDowntownPDX @pdxiceprotests pic.twitter.com/VsutjyMeG4
— Caleb and Cats (@Caleb_and_Cats) June 12, 2025
Police intervened shortly afterward and arrested both individuals involved in what’s being called “reckless burning.” But things didn’t calm down there — a third person allegedly assaulted a responding officer, punching them and attempting to choke them during the arrest. The officer didn’t suffer serious injuries, and that individual was also taken into custody.
In addition to the attempted arson, officers noted that a metal pole had been propped against the building’s main lobby entrance — a move that police say posed a significant safety hazard. The obstruction was removed before anyone was hurt.
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The three individuals arrested were identified as:
- Trenton E. Barker, 34, charged with reckless burning
- Austin J. Deever, 25, charged with reckless burning and second-degree criminal trespass
- Geovanna Carrasco, 27, charged with two counts of assaulting a public safety officer
All were booked into the Multnomah County Detention Center.
The Portland Police Bureau emphasized that these arrests were based on criminal behavior — not protected speech — and reiterated that they do not participate in immigration enforcement.
The attempted arson comes during a wave of renewed immigration-related protests across the West Coast. From Seattle to Los Angeles, federal immigration offices have become the focal point of demonstrations denouncing the Trump administration’s crackdown on undocumented immigrants and asylum seekers.
In Portland, dozens of demonstrators began gathering outside the ICE facility Tuesday afternoon and stayed well into the early hours of Wednesday morning. The crowd, holding signs and chanting against federal immigration policies, remained relatively peaceful early on — until things escalated later that night.
Unlike prior protests where Portland Police assisted in clearing ICE driveways, Police Chief Bob Day made it clear earlier this week that his officers would no longer support ICE facility operations in that way. “We traditionally do not clear the driveway,” Day told reporters. “Going forward we will not be clearing stuff from the driveway of the facility and we will not be engaging with any kind of perceived or actual support of vans or transports.”
To clarify, “clearing the driveway” refers to the practice of physically removing protesters, bicycles, scooters, or other blockades that obstruct the ICE facility’s entrance — often to help federal transport vehicles get in or out. Portland Police are now formally backing away from that kind of logistical support, in a clear attempt to separate themselves from federal immigration enforcement.
However, this does not mean Portland police will ignore criminal acts. The arrests made Wednesday — including charges of reckless burning and assaulting an officer — reflect that police are still responding to violence, property destruction, and threats to public safety.
Still, the situation intensified Tuesday evening as at least eight officers from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security arrived at the scene in a tactical vehicle and reportedly deployed at least one flash bang to disperse the crowd.
Local officers with the Portland Police Bureau didn’t arrive until shortly after midnight. Just as their cruisers, lights flashing, pulled up to the building, protesters declared they were “going for a walk” and left the area.
Despite the late-night fire and arrests on Wednesday, there were no arrests tied to Tuesday’s earlier demonstration. However, across the country, ICE has increased enforcement activity in recent weeks. In Portland alone, federal officers have detained at least four asylum seekers — all of whom were attending scheduled immigration court hearings.
Meanwhile, protests in Los Angeles have drawn national attention, not just for their size but for their response. President Donald Trump, over the objections of California officials, deployed thousands of National Guard troops and nearly 700 U.S. Marines to the area following violent clashes outside immigration offices.
Oregon Governor Tina Kotek responded to the situation forcefully this week, calling Trump’s unauthorized deployment in California “absurd, dangerous, and undemocratic.” In a press conference, Kotek made it clear that in Oregon, she is the commander-in-chief — and she won’t allow federal overreach in her state. However, while she controls the Oregon National Guard when it remains under state authority, Kotek cannot override the president’s legal power to federalize the Guard or deploy active-duty military forces under federal law.
“What we are focused on here in Oregon is being clear about: I’m the commander-in-chief. We are taking care of our communities,” she said.
“If there is any activity that needs to be taken care of, it will be done by local law enforcement.”
Kotek emphasized that the Oregon National Guard exists to serve Oregonians — not federal political agendas — and that its resources will be reserved for protecting the values and safety of residents within the state. She reiterated that protests in Oregon had remained peaceful so far and that there was “no reason to believe” they would escalate. However, the attempted arson Wednesday night now calls that assumption into question, as many had predicted a shift toward more volatile demonstrations.
The governor closed her remarks by addressing immigrant communities directly, saying they deserve to feel safe and protected in Oregon — despite federal crackdowns elsewhere.
As the situation along the West Coast continues to evolve, Portland remains a flashpoint — caught between local restraint and federal force.
