(TargetLiberty.org) – On Wednesday, August 12, an Oregon community found itself in the middle of a clash with federal officials and leftist protesters.
KTVZ reported that US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents were transporting illegal immigrants in Bend, Oregon. But they were blocked when hundreds of protesters surrounded the buses. The event was streamed live on Facebook, and throughout the day, the gathering grew.
Protestors in bend block buses from taking at atleast two men, immigration attorneys confirmed ice raid. Bend police just announced they are criminally trespassing pic.twitter.com/F0KoLH4O20
— Emily Cureton (@emilycureton) August 12, 2020
After a 12-hour standoff, US Border Patrol agents came in and took control of the situation. They used pepper spray to clear out the protesters so they could remove the ICE officers and two detainees from the buses.
An ICE spokesperson told the press that the two prisoners had histories of violent criminal behavior. This is who the protesters were trying to protect.
In a statement, ICE said it respected people’s rights to protest peacefully; however, that doesn’t include illegally stopping federal law enforcement officers from doing their jobs. The agency said it would take all necessary measures to keep its officers and prisoners safe.
Protesters Weren’t the Only Problem
But the protesters weren’t the only ones trying to interfere with ICE. Local officials also made their disdain for the agency known. Michael Krantz, the Bend police chief, told the press his officers were there to protect the protesters, not to help ICE. He even warned the rioters when federal officials were on the way.
Mayor Sally Russell also tweeted criticism of ICE, making it clear she did not support the agency.
Former acting director, Tom Homan, told Fox News immigration officers were trying to protect the community. He complained that Washington and Oregon had been taken over by the radical left while the police just “stand there and do nothing.”
Homan insisted the ICE agents were American patriots trying to enforce the law. He said 9 out of 10 people they arrest are actually threats to public safety.
None of that seemed to matter to the protesters who blocked the buses. All they cared about were the criminals. But in the end, Border Patrol agents were able to take control of the situation and keep the community safe. Thank goodness for that.
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