"The union that represents employees of Immigration and Customs Enforcement on Monday called on Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler to immediately provide law enforcement services to ICE employees.
Attorney Sean Riddell, legal representative for the
National Immigration and Customs Enforcement Council, sent a letter to the mayor's office Monday requesting a meeting with Wheeler to discuss the hands-off approach Portland police took to the OccupyICEPDX protest.
Demonstrators held a 38-day-long
occupation at the facility beginning June 17 in protest to President Donald Trump's immigration policies.
Riddell wrote in the letter that Wheeler's decision created "a zone of terror and lawlessness" and resulted in threats of physical violence and harassment toward ICE employees.
The letter, which was emailed to Wheeler's chief of staff around 7:30 a.m. Monday, said the union would like to avoid federal litigation, but is "prepared to protect our membership and their families."
"The Council and I assert that your current policy forbidding Portland law enforcement agencies from assisting employees of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement Agency ("ICE") who request law enforcement assistance while at or away from work is a violation of the United States Constitution's Equal Protection Clause," Riddell wrote."
ICE union asks Portland mayor for police protection