Encountering ICE agents on the road can be a harrowing experience, especially as more reports surface showing how unpredictable and intimidating those encounters can be. While ICE is officially supposed to target undocumented immigrants, numerous incidents have raised alarms about overreach and aggressive tactics. One recent incident in the Portland area has drawn particular attention and left many Portland residents questioning how safe they really are when federal agents are involved. The situation unfolded near the Beaverton City Court in Oregon.
A woman driving in the area noticed ICE agents in a parking lot and decided to pull in and start recording. According to her account and video shared online, once the agents realized she was filming, they quickly boxed in her vehicle, surrounding her and blocking her ability to leave. Feeling threatened, she began asking viewers on her livestream to call 911 for her.
The woman repeatedly explained that she did not feel safe stopping the recording to make the call herself. She said the camera was the only thing protecting her in that moment. As the livestream continued, viewers could see police officers exiting the courthouse nearby. Despite their proximity, none of the officers intervened, checked on her, or appeared to address the presence of ICE agents surrounding a civilian vehicle.
Although the woman was ultimately not detained, the response afterward sparked widespread anger across Portland. Officer Robert Lamb later claimed that he went to check the situation and saw nothing happening. A police statement added to the controversy by saying dispatch had received an anonymous call from someone “not at the scene” who was unable to provide a specific location. The statement further claimed that once the location was determined, Beaverton Police responded, but the federal agents were already gone.
For many people in Portland who watched the livestream in real time, that explanation rang hollow. Viewers pointed out that the woman clearly stated where she was, mentioned seeing police units nearby, and that the livestream itself showed multiple federal vehicles surrounding her. One commenter called the statement “extremely misleading,” arguing that the location was obvious and that pretending otherwise was dishonest.
Refusing to let the issue quietly disappear, the Portland woman later attended a city council meeting in Portland and used her public comment time to confront city leaders and the police department. She accused the department of backing false statements and ignoring repeated calls for help while ICE agents surrounded her. She demanded to know what accountability would look like when official reports contradicted what hundreds of people had witnessed live.
Online reaction to her testimony was strong. Many Portland residents praised her for speaking up directly to officials. One user wrote, “I admire her shiny steel spine! Her question is a good one. Beaverton Police have already given their answer, I fear, and they may speak for most LEOs.” Others said the incident only confirmed what they already believed about local law enforcement and ICE cooperation. As another commenter put it, “Police are completely and totally compromised, period full stop.”
