Alex Baumhardt

Federal judge restricts agents' use of tear gas, munitions against crowds at Portland ICE facility • Oregon Capital Chronicle The order is part of an ongoing lawsuit against the federal government brought by protesters and freelance journalists.

"In a well-functioning constitutional democratic republic, free speech, courageous newsgathering, and nonviolent protest are all permitted, respected, and even celebrated. In an authoritarian regime, that is not the case. Our nation is now at a crossroads"
oregoncapitalchronicle.com/2026/02/03/f...

Opinion | ICE Is Watching You ICE knows that it cannot shoot us all. But the Department of Homeland Security is close to being able to track us all.

In @nytopinion.nytimes.com

“ICE knows that it cannot shoot us all,” our columnist Tressie McMillan Cottom writes.“But the Department of Homeland Security is close to being able to track us all.”

The Paramilitary ICE and CBP Units at the Center of Minnesota's Killings Two agents involved in the shooting deaths of US citizens in Minneapolis are reportedly part of highly militarized DHS units whose extreme tactics are generally reserved for war zones.

Two agents involved in the shooting deaths of US citizens in Minneapolis are reportedly part of paramilitary tactical units—including ICE’s two Special Response Teams (SRT), CBP’s one SRT, and the Border Patrol Tactical Unit (BORTAC)—whose extreme tactics are generally reserved for war zones.

Understanding the Oregon Legislature: How laws get passed — and how to participate • Oregon Capital Chronicle The Oregon Legislature convened in Salem for a month-long legislative session, during which elected officials will pass state laws.

What happens at the Capitol affects all Oregonians. Here's our guide to how to follow the action and make your voice heard.

US House sends funding bill to Trump, setting up immigration enforcement debate • Oregon Capital Chronicle WASHINGTON — The U.S. House cleared a government funding package Tuesday, sending the legislation to President Donald Trump, who is expected to quickly sign it and end the partial shutdown that began…

Oregon's five Democratic congresswomen voted against the funding bill, while U.S. Rep. Cliff Bentz, the state's lone Republican, voted for it. oregoncapitalchronicle.com/2026/02/03/r...

US House Democrats call for Kristi Noem’s firing in rally outside ICE headquarters • South Dakota Searchlight Dozens of U.S. House Democrats and leaders of several caucuses rallied on a chilly morning, demanding the resignation, firing or impeachment of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem.

Dozens of U.S. House Democrats and leaders of several caucuses rallied on a chilly morning outside U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement headquarters in the nation’s capital, demanding the resignation, firing or impeachment of Homeland Security Secretary #KristiNoem.

Nearly 30,000 Minnesotans trained as constitutional observers The Immigrant Defense Network works with more than 100 organizations to help train constitutional observers. At the end of November, there were 2,500 trained observers. That number has soared as more ...

A manager for the Immigrant Defense Network told MPR News that back in November, 2,500 people were trained as constitutional observers. Now, the total is nearly 30,000 trained observers in 77 of Minnesota's 87 counties.

ICE is afraid of children protesting “Next time, I’ll be back with a gas mask.”

ICE tear gassed a bunch of children on Saturday. This was a massive escalation of force. They were shooting tear gas at the back of the crowd, it took these unmasked people maybe 3-5 minutes in the cloud of tear gas to escape in without trampling. www.theverge.com/policy/87278...

Mike Lindell's campaign for governor is buying boatloads of Mike Lindell autobiographies • Minnesota Reformer Mike Lindell’s memoir, “What Are the Odds? From Crack Addict to CEO,” has enjoyed a new surge of sales since he announced a run for governor late last year. Who’s buying the book, which details his ad...

MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell spent more than half the money he raised in his campaign for Minnesota governor last year buying copies of his autobiography.

US Education Department paid up to $38M to civil rights workers on leave, watchdog says • West Virginia Watch WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Education exhausted millions in taxpayer dollars trying to eliminate a chunk of its Office for Civil Rights, a government watchdog found in a report released…

The U.S. Department of Education exhausted millions in taxpayer dollars trying to eliminate a chunk of its Office for Civil Rights, a government watchdog found in a report released Monday, Shauneen Miranda.

Federal officers’ use of tear gas on protesters, children in Portland set to go before a judge Protesters suing the federal government say the past weekend’s violence at the Immigration and Customs Enforcement building in Portland shows the need for a judge to limit federal officers from using ...

I was not far from the ICE building when they started launching gas at the crowd from atop the building, and I did not hear any warning over the building loud speakers. I heard someone in the crowd say “they’re coming out” right before flash bangs hit the pavement.
www.opb.org/article/2026...

ICE detains two more students from Liam Ramos’s school, officials say The brothers’ mother was taken by ICE and Minnesota educators were forced to bring the children to her

Liam, 5, has been freed, but four other students from his school district remain detained in Texas. Two boys from his elementary school were taken Thurs

“This isn’t something we are prepared or trained for. We’ve dedicated our lives to protecting + educating children,” school superintendent told me

Accountability for ICE and CBP However bad you think the corruption and misconduct at ICE and CBP is — the reality is far far worse.

I testified Friday before Gov. Pritzker's commission studying abuses of ICE and CBP and tried to explain how the agencies went so far off track. It's actually way worse than I ever realized. Please read and share my testimony as Congress considers reform: www.doomsdayscenario.co/p/accountabi...

Two CBP Agents Identified in Alex Pretti Shooting The two federal immigration agents who fired on Minneapolis protester Alex Pretti are identified in government records as Border Patrol agent Jesus Ochoa and Customs and Border Protection officer Raym...

BREAKING: The two federal immigration agents who fired on Minneapolis protester Alex Pretti are identified in government records as Border Patrol agent Jesus Ochoa and Customs and Border Protection officer Raymundo Gutierrez.

Yesterday, five-year-old Liam and his dad Adrian were released from Dilley detention center. I picked them up last night and escorted them back to Minnesota this morning.

Liam is now home. With his hat and his backpack.

A cloud of tear gas outside the Portland ICE facility. A person in a shark costume emerging from the cloud.

Like many have said, the gassing outside ICE today was really bad, and it impacted a huge group of people. I heard multiple people say they felt like they were going to throw up as they tried to leave the area. (I experienced similar effects.) It followed a peaceful protest led by labor groups.

I was there, too, and recorded this as people left the scene.

Hard to see in the video, but the baby in mom's arms was also crying with red eyes.

Thank you Kelcie!!

Anti-ICE protest attracts massive crowd at South Portland facility, feds deploy tear gas Thousands of demonstrators marched on the ICE building, leading federal officers to launch pepper balls and tear gas at them.

Thousands of protestors marched across Portland and enveloped the blocks around the ICE building Saturday.

Protestors were met with large clouds of tear gas, pepper balls and flash bangs.

Thinking of you and sending so much love Shelly!!

A couple hundred people have returned to the ICE building to protest. More Portland Police officers and firefighters have shown up. @oregoncapitalchronicle.com

Very interesting developments in LA and Portland. It will be interesting to see if the feds are forced to send agents from Minnesota to other places they're now under pressure. Follow @opb.org and @alexbaumhardt.bsky.social on the ground for developments.

Just experienced the most intense tear gassing of my life by federal officers outside the ICE facility in Portland where marchers gathered. There was no fast exit as they indiscriminately threw loads of gas and flash bangs. Children were in the crowd screaming. @oregoncapitalchronicle.com

Teachers, construction workers, nurses unions are among those present at the March to the Portland ICE facility that has grown to a few thousand people @oregoncapitalchronicle.com

Just arrived to a march against ICE in Portland, OR, blocks from the ICE processing facility that has been the site of ongoing protests. Members of 30 unions organized the march, and there are well over 1,000 people here at Elizabeth Carothers Park @oregoncapitalchronicle.com

Senate passes bill to resolve shutdown clash, punting on DHS for two weeks The House is not in Washington and plans to vote when it returns Monday. That means a government shutdown this weekend, which will have little impact if it remains brief.

🚨 Senate passes bill to resolve shutdown clash, punting on DHS for two weeks

71-29.

Now to the House—expected to vote Monday.

This deal funds most of the government through Sept and gives DHS a new deadline of Friday, Feb. 13 as Democrats push to restrain ICE/CBP.

www.nbcnews.com/politics/con...

They’ve expired. Won’t be revived in this bill

👀 Every Senate Democrat + Collins and Murkowski just voted for the Bernie Sanders amendment to repeal the $75 billion in additional ICE funding under Trump’s “big beautiful bill.” The measure failed 49-51.

CNN in Minneapolis: We are seeing thousands and thousands of people, we've been standing on the corner here for the past ten minutes. This this crowd has not let up. It's just continuous.