Portland protesters told to leave ICE property

(Update: Feds issue ‘notice to vacate’ to protesters)

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) -Demonstrators occupying federal property outside the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement office in Portland have been told to leave.

Law enforcement officers began distributing notices to vacate late Monday morning.

U.S. Attorney for Oregon Billy Williams says protesters have a lawful right to assemble, but are not allowed to block driveways or entrances.

The Occupy ICE PDX protest seeks to abolish ICE and end the Trump administration’s “zero tolerance” policy on immigration.

The round-the-clock demonstration outside Portland headquarters began June 17. It increased in size early last week, prompting officials to close the facility.

A team of federal law enforcement officers entered the ICE building earlier Monday to secure government property.

Federal Protective Service spokesman Rob Sperling says officers entered the building at 3:30 a.m. Protesters did not try to stop them.

Sperling says it’s a precautionary move, and there’s no indication that activists camped outside the facility have entered it.

Here’s a statement issued by the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Portland:

At approximately 10:30 a.m. today, law enforcement officers from the Federal Protective Service (FPS) began distributing notices to vacate federal property to individuals participating in the “Occupy ICE PDX” demonstration at 4310 SW Macadam Avenue, in Southwest Portland.

“The U.S. Attorney’s Office is working with FPS and ICE to reopen the federal building on Southwest Macadam that serves many critical functions requiring public and employee access. We acknowledge the community’s concerns driving these demonstrations. While demonstrators have a lawful right to assemble and voice their concerns, blocking the building’s driveways or entrances is not permitted under federal law,” said Billy J. Williams, U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon.

It is unlawful under 41 C.F.R. § 102-74.390 and § 102-74.450 to obstruct the entrances, foyers, lobbies, corridors, offices and parking lots of federal facilities. Under these regulations, demonstrators are not permitted to obstruct the driveway or entrance of the ICE facility located on SW Macadam Avenue.

Federal law does not restrict demonstrators from gathering on non-federal property adjacent to a federal facility. However, demonstrators are encouraged to review and adhere to all applicable state laws and local regulations.

Flyers communicating the notice to vacate were distributed by federal law enforcement officers throughout demonstrators’ encampment and posted at the entrances to the ICE facility.

Individuals who continue to obstruct the entrance of this federal facility will be subject to arrest and prosecution in federal court under the above listed regulations.

FPS provides integrated security and law enforcement services to more than 9,500 federal facilities throughout the U.S. and is the lead law enforcement agency for this action.