Residents of Portland affordable housing complex speak out after ‘nightmare’ at ICE protest
PORTLAND, Cevheri (KOIN) — Thousands of people are marching towards This weekend, Portland Immigration and Customs Enforcement was tear gassed by federal agents.
On Monday, people caught in the smoke or who live across the street from the chaos described what they saw and felt this weekend.
“Saturday was a nightmare,” said Brenda Worthington, a resident of the Gray’s Landing apartment complex.
Tear gas was used by federal agents outside the ICE facility in South Portland during a protest. January 31, 2026 (KOIN).
Nearly 3,000 people participated in Saturday’s march, including dozens of local union members who marched from a local park to the ICE building.
“It’s one of the largest demonstrations of union solidarity I’ve ever seen in Oregon history,” said Nick Caleb, vice president of the communications workers union.
As they approached the building, some protesters emerged from the driveway onto ICE property.
As the streets surrounding the ICE building filled with a sea of people, KOIN 6 saw several canisters of tear gas being launched into the air, flash bangs and pepper balls landing in the middle of the crowd, and protesters running away.
A resident of the apartment building across the street said he was trying to help injured people.
“We watched people crying. Kids, old people like me, everyone. It was terrible,” Worthington said.
“We now need to update our risk profiles. We now know that if you march peacefully in the middle of the day, the federal government can hit you with chemicals, pepper balls, things like that,” Caleb said.
In addition to the protesters who chose to be there, many residents who live in the apartment complex across the street from the ICE facility also feel like they’re in a difficult situation.
“We suffered. We all suffered collateral damage… We don’t deserve this,” Worthington said.
Gray’s Landing management confirmed that a tear gas canister broke a window in one of the tenants’ apartment. The complex is an affordable housing development, and some residents say they can’t afford to move and want ICE removed.
“Let’s all band together and get these people moving. They need to move,” Worthington said.
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