Before Donald Trump officially took office, his border official stated “the new Republican administration will launch large operations to detain and deport undocumented immigrants beginning on the day of the United States president-elect’s inauguration on Monday.” On January 23rd 2025, ICE began making arrests nationally in New Jersey, New York, Massachusetts, California, and so on. On January 31st 2025, there were “swirling rumors of ICE raids throughout the city” in Oregon. Those rumors spread and created growing unease. The rumors continued and put anxiety within families, students, workers/vendors, and the immigrant population in the state. Though there was no confirmation, rumors of ICE were enough to cause panic.
ICE activity continued across many states, a protest that millions of people across the nation called “No Kings Day”, took place on Saturday, June 14th 2025. More than 1,500 protests were scheduled worldwide. Multiple of these protests spread across Oregon, including Forest Grove, Portland, Hillsboro, Clackamas, Gresham, and more. In Portland, “roughly 25,000 to 30,000 people march through the streets of Portland for the No Kings Day protest.” Tensions rose as arrests were made during a separate protest that took place that same night, not too far. Throughout June and September, protests continued in Portland and so did arrests.
These past few weeks, tension grew even higher when President Donald Trump attempted to send National guard troops to the city, claiming that the city of Portland was a ‘warzone’. On October 4th 2025, a large march and protest marched to an ICE detention facility which ended in tear gas, pepper balls, and smoke canisters being fired into the crowd, along with several arrests being made. The protests continue, on October 11th 2025, another protest took place. This protest consisted of protestors dressed in various inflatable animal costumes, including frogs, dinosaurs, or cartoon animals outside another ICE facility. The inflatable costumes caught the media’s attention and these protestor frogs gained lots of love from all over the country in just a couple nights. This protest was said to be ‘calm’ and ‘low-key’ but ended up in tear gas and arrests. Oregon still remains tense as the residents of Portland await a decision on whether or not Trump’s attempt to send national troops to their city will be granted or denied.
Another “No Kings day” protest is planned to take place on Saturday, October 8th 2025, across the country. “At least 70 protests are planned in about 65 cities around Oregon”, including here in Forest Grove, planned at “4:30-6:30 pm at 3034 Pacific ave in Forest Grove.” These events are to protest against the Trump administration, ICE, and president Donald Trump himself. As more sightings of ICE continue in Oregon, protests will continue, and likely will continue the next few months in not only Oregon, but across the country as well.
