Portland City Council Bans Police from Assisting Federal Law Enforcement

The Portland City Council unanimously passed a resolution on Wednesday that effectively bans the Portland Police Bureau from assisting federal law enforcement, as Commissioner Chloe Eudaly accused the Trump administration of “attempting to use Portland as a proving ground for fascism.”

The resolution, which passed Wednesday, prevents cooperation between local and federal law enforcement. A local officer who “provides, requests, or willingly receives operational support from militarized federal forces” will be subject to disciplinary actions.

“Not only is the Trump administration violating the constitutional rights of Portlanders, but they are also attempting to use Portland as a proving ground for fascism, and they plan to invade cities across the country, cities that are political targets of the President,” Commissioner Eudaly, who presented two resolutions, said.

“This resolution serves as a statement of our opposition to their presence in our city, direction to our police bureau, a template for policies that other cities can advance, and a national call to action,” she continued.

Oregon Live reported:

The ban on coordinating with federal officers cites “an unprecedented and unconstitutional abuse of power by the federal government” as reason to discipline any Portland police member if they provide, request or willingly receive operational support from any agency or employee representing the Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Marshal Service, Federal Protective Service, Customs and Border Protection or any other federal service while they are occupying the city.

The other policy condemns intentional targeting of press members and legal observers who are documenting police conduct during the protests unless city officers have reasonable suspicion that they have committed a crime. A federal judge in Portland has already ordered credentialed journalists and legal observers be exempt from arrest or threat of arrest by Portland police after officers have issued an “unlawful assembly” or “riot” declaration.

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