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Homeland Security Will Begin Withdrawing Federal Agents from Portland

Photo by Dave Killen of The Oregonian via AP

On Wednesday, the Trump administration and the governor of Oregon agreed to remove the now infamous federal agents from downtown Portland. However, the Department of Homeland Security said it would  maintain its agents in the city until they felt that government-owned property was secure, creating a conflicting narrative around the agents’ presence in that city.

Initially, the federal agents were sent to Portland to protect its courthouse, which has been the principle gathering spot for Black Lives Matter protestors since late May.  However, violent clashes between officials and protesters pushed the Trump administration as well as Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Chad Wolfe to reconsider the need for federal officials in that city.

The departure of Customs and Border Protection as well as Immigration and Customs Enforcement from downtown Portland is scheduled for today, July 30.

The city’s Democratic governor, Kate Brown, made the announcement on Twitter last night.

However, Secretary Wolf contradicted the governor and said  that the DHS would continue coordinating efforts with the Oregon State Police to ensure the protection of federal property from attacks and arson.

“DHS law enforcement that are there today will remain in Portland until we are assured that Oregon State Police and plans that the governor has put together is successful,” Wolf said.

According to the DHS, federal officers will not be patrolling the court house directly but will remain in the city.

“They will be ready as a sort of standby status if they’re needed,” said DHS Deputy Secretary Ken Cuccinelli. “If peace occurs and then holds, we will draw down the officers we have moved into Portland as the need dissipates.”

On the same day that the Trump administration  announced  the federal agents’  pending withdrawal, they also revealed that they would expand their presence to Detroit, Milwaukee, and Cleveland.


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