Oregon's top legal brass is turning the heat up on federal law enforcement activities within its borders, specifically highlighting an uncomfortable relationship between local communities and the Department of Homeland Security's tactics. In a strongly-worded letter directed to U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi and DHS Secretary Kristi Noem and released early this morning, Attorney General Dan Rayfield joined by Multnomah County DA Nathan Vasquez, Washington County DA Kevin Barton, and Clackamas County DA John Wentworth are voicing their collective concern over what they call "unlawful and reckless actions" by the Department of Homeland Security officers, according to the Oregon Department of Justice.
The quartet of prosecutors pointed out instances where DHS personnel were alleged to use excessive and unnecessary force — munitions hitting officers from the Portland Police Bureau and Oregon State Police and tear-gas deployments that not only put residents at risk but also other law enforcements, according to a release from the Oregon Department of Justice. Moreover, echoing the same sentiments, Attorney General Rayfield commented, "It doesn't matter who you are, you have to follow the law and our Constitution," further adding that they will hold federal forces accountable should they continue to step outside the law.
In their combined stand against what they see as overreach by federal agents including the halting of unlawful actions, improving training, cooperating at the Portland ICE facility, they come forward with a litany of examples that have cast federal officers in a dubious light; for instance, an unmarked van with agents apprehending teenagers at gunpoint in a Hillsboro Dutch Bros drive-thru and a 17-year-old high school student being aggressively detained by officers in McMinnville have been flagged as incidents that break away from what should be acceptable law enforcement conduct, as obtained by the Oregon Department of Justice.
These district attorneys aren't just dropping rhetoric, they're threatening prosecution where evidence of criminal behavior by federal officers exists, a stance outlined in their letter which serves as a formal notice that any federal officer acting outside their authority will not be shielded, as explained in sworn testimony during State of Oregon v. Donald Trump where senior officials from DHS and the Portland Police Department conceded that unjustified and disproportionate force had been used against protesters and sometimes law enforcement. "The volume and severity of force used by DHS officers in Oregon over the last six months has eroded trust, jeopardized public safety, and undermined the cooperative relationships that effective law enforcement depends on," the Oregon Department of Justice stated.
