CBRN event in United States of America on Sun 29th March 2026

After thousands of protestors rallied across Portland for “No Kings” events, dozens made their way over to the Portland ICE facility. Portland Police monitored the crowds. The protest outside of the facility comes three days after an appeals court paused two separate orders restricting federal officers’ use of tear gas and other crowd control methods during protests outside of the building in South Portland. The orders are from two lawsuits; one filed by the ACLU of Oregon and the other filed by residents and the owner of the affordable housing complex Gray’s Landing across from the ICE facility who all claim ICE agents’ use of chemical and projectile munitions has violated the rights of nearby residents and protesters. Following Wednesday’s ruling, lawyers representing the owner and residents of Gray’s Landing pushed for a temporary hold on that order ahead of Saturday’s “No Kings” protests, but that request was denied this morning. Potential use of tear gas 'terrifying' Some Gray’s Landing residents called the court’s decision “terrifying,” citing the last large “No Kings” rally that resulted in hundreds of people showing up outside of the ICE facility who were met with tear gas and other chemical munitions from ICE officers. “Unfortunately, when there was this massive amount of people [during the last 'No Kings' rally], it was definitely not a great time for us at that building,” said Mercedes Moreno who lives at Gray’s Landing and is a plaintiff in the lawsuit. Moreno, who underwent adrenal gland removal surgery two weeks ago was put up in a hotel Saturday, out of fear that tear gas will be deployed in the evening. “If I could at all from the tear gas, I could tear my stitches,” she said. “And I have internal stitches and internal things going on, so coughing could land me back in the hospital; it could put me back exponentially with my health.” Moreno said her surgery was a result of having Cushing's disease. She said the deployment of tear gas has exacerbated her symptoms. “I make too much cortisol, which is your stress hormone. I make 100 times higher than a normal human being,” Moreno said. “It’s a very serious condition, so adding mental or physical stress onto me has not helped, especially with the tear gas.” “Being affected by it physically has caused a lot of health problems,” she continued. “I’ve had a lot of sinus problems, respiratory problems, skin issues, just issues in general that have gotten worse since the tear gas at my house.” Moreno said because her hotel does not allow pets, she made preparations to protect her cat in case tear gas is deployed when she is not home. “I had to put him in the bathroom with towels under the door,” she said. “I put his food, his water, his litter box, and just hope for the best. That’s my biggest concern is my poor little cat. If he’s there getting tear gas, a towel under the door only does so much.” She also said she is concerned for her neighbors. “We have very elderly veteran neighbors that don’t reach out for help unfortunately. A few of them are very confused with all of the gas and all the noise and the coughing and their eyes are watering. They don’t know where to go. It’s just very sad to watch and see.” Mindy King, who also lives at Gray's Landing and is a plaintiff in the lawsuit, said she made preparations ahead of tonight's protest, and said "the crowd size has never mattered. What really makes the difference is do they have a lawful action that says they can't and right now they don't." "[I] have my air purifiers, have the fan that has the filters on it, have our gas masks ready, have our cameras rolling..." King said. "Really, there's not a whole lot else I can do other than, you know, checking in with my neighbors about that." City attempts a solution The city of Portland reiterated their new city code this week that allows the city to fine the property owner of a detention facility for nuisances near the building, including the deployment of tear gas. Neighbors of the Portland ICE facility said they have little faith that code will make a difference in federal agents' decision to deploy chemical munitions. "What's that going to do to somebody who has endless money," said King. "He has so much property around here that that little fine is just a penny in the pocket, so I don't think that's what's going to make a difference." "I think it's going to be our court standing up saying this is a right we have; to be able to breathe in our homes, that they're choosing to do this in a residential area, which is absolutely ridiculous," she continued. "And there's no reason for it." King said while the temporary injunctions were in place, things were peaceful. "When they can't tear gas, there's no violence, there's no issues," King said. "They have other alternatives for how to control the challenges they're up against, and there's just no reason to be introducing these chemical munitions, which impact not only families in the area, the people here at the protests, but the animals, nature, the river, the things we value most here in Oregon." King said the described what the impacts of tear gas tonight would be for neighbors. "The residue from the tear gas will be all over our screens, it will be all over our patio, all over any furniture out there, it'll be all over the courtyard where the children's playground equipment is, it will be all over the environment. It'll be on the trees where the birds need to eat. It will be everywhere regardless of what is done, how much is done, how little is done, what is done afterwards. It will stay." Wednesday’s 9th Circuit Court of Appeals rulings are not final decisions in the cases. Oral arguments are scheduled to be consolidated and scheduled for April 7. "I hope that the courts continue to listen to our testimony," said King. "I hope they continue to look strategically and thoughtfully and intentionally at these things and work together instead of divided viewpoints. This really is a very simple concept of freedom to breathe air."