Federal immigration enforcement has once again taken center stage in American cities, as recent weeks have seen a series of confrontations, policy changes, and political clashes from coast to coast. From Portland’s tense standoffs to Chicago’s facility evacuations and New York’s dramatic sit-ins, the national debate over immigration enforcement has rarely felt more urgent—or more polarized.
In Portland, Oregon, new video footage released on September 21, 2025, has drawn sharp scrutiny of federal agents’ tactics during ongoing protests outside the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) building in South Portland. According to The Oregonian/OregonLive, the video shows officers in tactical gear shoving, striking, and spraying chemical irritants at demonstrators who, at the time, were not engaging in physical violence. The footage, reviewed by local reporters and witnesses, captures officers deploying chemical spray directly into a crowd of protesters, forcing them to retreat. These incidents, which unfolded earlier in the week, are just the latest in a summer-long series of demonstrations denouncing federal immigration policies and practices.
Protests at the Portland ICE facility have been a regular occurrence since early June, with most gatherings remaining peaceful even as tensions have periodically boiled over. Community members and civil rights advocates have repeatedly accused federal officers of using excessive force to disperse crowds and intimidate participants, arguing that such tactics undermine constitutionally protected rights to assemble and protest. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS), which oversees ICE, has yet to issue a detailed statement in response to the latest video evidence, leaving many Portland residents and national advocacy groups demanding investigations into potential violations of use-of-force policies and civil rights protections.
Meanwhile, in suburban Broadview near Chicago, the Trump administration has moved to evacuate an ICE facility that has become a flashpoint for protests against the president’s hardline immigration crackdown. As reported by HuffPost, ICE officials began relocating detainees and equipment from the Broadview site following weeks of demonstrations, which reached a boiling point on September 19, 2025. That day, demonstrators—who said they were tear-gassed and arrested—gathered in anticipation of detainee removals for deportation. Among those present was Kat Abughazaleh, a journalist and congressional candidate, who recounted, “This facility is committing crimes against humanity. It is a processing facility, so people are not supposed to be held for more than 12 hours at a time. They are being held for days or even weeks at a time. It’s horrific.”
Illinois officials, including Lt. Governor Juliana Stratton, have publicly condemned the use of force at the Broadview protests and called for resistance to the administration’s immigration policies. “We are seeing the Constitution being stomped upon,” Stratton told CBS Chicago. “All of us need to be speaking with moral clarity and saying this is not right.” The operation in Chicago, dubbed “Midway Blitz,” resulted in nearly 550 arrests over two weeks, echoing similar surges in Los Angeles and Washington, D.C., with more promised in Boston and other cities. The influx of masked federal agents has stoked fear in immigrant communities and galvanized protest movements across the country.
New York City, too, has seen its share of dramatic confrontations. On September 18, 2025, a group of Democratic lawmakers and protesters—including New York City Comptroller Brad Lander—staged a sit-in on the 10th floor of the Federal Plaza ICE facility, demanding access to ICE offices and holding cells. According to Fox News Digital, the protest led to a lockdown of the facility, with officers securing doors and calling in additional security. The following day, the Department of Homeland Security released the names of several detainees held at the facility, labeling them as the “worst of the worst” criminal illegal aliens. Among those named were individuals with convictions for drug trafficking, weapon possession, DUI offenses, and gang affiliations such as MS-13.
The protest resulted in 71 arrests, including Lander, two New York State senators, and nine State Assembly members. DHS assistant secretary for public affairs Tricia McLaughlin criticized the demonstration, stating, “Another day with more politicians pulling a stunt in an attempt to get their 15 minutes of fame while endangering DHS personnel and detainees.” She emphasized that ICE officers “put their lives on the line every day to arrest violent criminal illegal aliens to protect and defend the lives of American citizens.” The federal response underscored the deep divide between local officials pushing for more humane immigration policies and federal authorities focused on enforcement and public safety.
As protests and enforcement actions continue, California has taken a bold legislative step in response to recent immigration raids. On September 20, 2025, Governor Gavin Newsom signed a bill making California the first state to ban most law enforcement officers—including federal immigration agents—from wearing masks during official operations. The law, as reported by the Associated Press, was a direct response to recent raids in Los Angeles where masked agents made mass arrests, sparking public outrage and the deployment of National Guard troops and Marines.
Governor Newsom, flanked by lawmakers and immigrant community leaders, declared, “We celebrate that diversity. It’s what makes California great. It’s what makes America great. It is under assault.” He argued that the law pushes back against “dystopian” enforcement tactics, saying, “It’s like a dystopian sci-fi movie. Unmarked cars, people in masks, people quite literally disappearing. No due process, no rights, no right in a democracy where we have rights. Immigrants have rights, and we have the right to stand up and push back, and that’s what we’re doing here today.” The law prohibits face coverings such as neck gaiters and ski masks for local and federal officers during official business, with exceptions for undercover work, medical masks, and tactical gear. State police are also exempt.
Trump administration officials have swiftly denounced the California law, defending the use of masks as necessary for agent safety amid increasing harassment and threats. Bill Essayli, acting U.S. attorney for Southern California, stated on social media that the state does not have jurisdiction over federal operations and that agents will continue to protect their identities. DHS assistant secretary Tricia McLaughlin called the law “despicable and a flagrant attempt to endanger our officers,” arguing that rhetoric like Newsom’s has led to a surge in assaults on federal law enforcement.
The new law adds to a growing list of measures California has taken to shield immigrants and challenge federal enforcement efforts. Newsom also signed legislation barring immigration agents from entering schools and health care facilities without a valid warrant, and requiring schools to notify parents and teachers if agents are on campus. According to Assemblymember Al Muratsuchi, “students cannot learn if they live in fear of being deported. The California Safe Haven Schools Act is a clear message to Donald Trump: ‘keep ICE out of our schools.’”
From the streets of Portland to the halls of California’s legislature, the battle over immigration enforcement has become a defining issue, drawing sharp lines between federal authority and local resistance. As protests persist and policies shift, the nation continues to wrestle with the challenge of balancing public safety, constitutional rights, and the lived realities of immigrant communities.
