US EditionFederal agents must limit tear gas for now at protests outside Portland ICE building, judge says
The 14-day order limits use of chemical munitions to situations with imminent threats and bans targeting head, neck, or torso unless deadly force is justified, Judge Simon ruled.
- On Feb. 3, 2026, U.S. District Judge Michael H. Simon temporarily limited federal officers' use of tear gas and projectile munitions outside the Portland ICE building unless the target poses an imminent threat.
- After weekend clashes on Jan. 31 during a Labor Against ICE march, the ACLU of Oregon filed a lawsuit claiming federal agents' tear gas use chilled First Amendment rights of protesters and journalists.
- Court filings show injuries: Laurie Eckman was hit in the head by a pepper ball and journalists Mason Lake and Hugo Rios were struck while marked as press, plaintiffs allege. `In an authoritarian regime, that is not the case` — Judge Simon.
- The temporary restraining order lasts 14 days and Judge Simon scheduled a March 2, 2026, hearing where plaintiffs can seek a preliminary injunction.
- Nationally, other courts have scrutinized federal agents' crowd-control tactics, with DOJ attorneys defending officer policies while Oregon congressional Democrats urged DHS withdrawal and Portland city officials enforce landlord fines since Jan. 1.
116 Articles
116 Articles
Federal officials barred from firing munitions at Portland anti-ICE protesters
An Oregon judge temporarily barred federal officers from firing “chemical or projectile munitions” at anti-Immigration and Customs Enforcement protesters in Portland on Tuesday. The ruling, issued by U.S. District Judge Michael Simon, applies to tear gas, pepper spray, less-lethal shotguns, rubber ball grenades, and various other weapons. Officers have often used such munitions to maintain crowd control in Portland and elsewhere. The weapons can…
Federal agents must limit tear gas for now at protests outside ICE building in Portland, Oregon, judge says
A judge in Oregon on Tuesday temporarily restricted federal officers from using tear gas at protests at the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement building in Portland, just days after agents launched gas at a crowd of demonstrators including young children that local officials described as peaceful.
The spokesman-Review
Federal judge restricts agents’ use of tear gas, munitions against crowds at Portland ICE facility
Federal agents at an Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility in Portland are temporarily barred from deploying less-lethal munitions and chemicals at protesters unless the agents are in “imminent threat of physical harm,” a federal judge ruled Tuesday.
Judge restricts federal agents from using tear gas, projectile munitions at Portland immigration protests
The ruling comes just days after federal agents launched tear gas at a crowd of demonstrators, including young children, that local officials described as peaceful.
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