Oregon to Feds Rein in Your Officers or We'll Prosecute

Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield and district attorneys from Multnomah, Clackamas, and Washington Counties have urged the U. S. Department of Justice to rein in federal agents' excessive use of force. They issued a joint letter demanding that federal officers comply with state laws while operating in Oregon. The letter cites several alarming incidents, including the indiscriminate use of tear gas and projectiles against protesters and local police at the ICE facility in Portland.

One notable incident involved federal agents pulling guns on teenagers at a local coffee shop, raising serious concerns about their enforcement tactics. The prosecutors stated they would investigate any federal officers whose actions appear to exceed lawful limits, potentially leading to criminal referrals. This initiative comes after Oregon's legislation, passed in 2020, imposed stricter regulations on police use of force, particularly regarding tear gas deployment. Portland Police Bureau Commander Franz Schoening testified that federal agents do not follow the same restrictions as local law enforcement. The letter reinforces the need for accountability amid ongoing tensions between federal enforcement and local communities.