The governor of Oregon announced on Wednesday that federal officers will be leaving the city of Portland starting on Thursday, but the Department of Homeland Security says that a withdrawal won’t be happening so quickly.
“After my discussions with VP Pence and others, the federal government has agreed to withdraw federal officers from Portland,” Democratic Gov. Kate Brown posted on Twitter. “They have acted as an occupying force & brought violence. Starting tomorrow, all Customs and Border Protection & ICE officers will leave downtown Portland.”
A statement from the governor’s office acknowledged that the agreement would entail a “phased withdrawal” from Portland. “Beginning Thursday, all Customs and Border Protection and ICE officers will leave downtown Portland, and shortly thereafter will begin going home,” the statement added.
The governor’s team insisted to the Washington Examiner that all of CBP and ICE officials would be leaving Portland “on Thursday” and added, “A limited contingent of federal officials — who provide security year-round to the federal courthouse — will remain and stay focused on its interior. Oregon State Police troopers will be downtown to protect free speech and keep the peace.”
But, when asked by Fox News if he agreed to the Thursday timeline, acting DHS Secretary Chad Wolf said, “Absolutely not.” He has offered no specific timeline and said the drawdown will not happen for now.
“The Department will continue to maintain our current, augmented federal law enforcement personnel in Portland until we are assured that the Hatfield Federal Courthouse and other federal properties will no longer be attacked and that the seat of justice in Portland will remain secure,” Wolf said earlier in the day in a statement.
In a statement to the Washington Examiner, White House deputy press secretary Sarah Matthews wrote, “As the President and Secretary Wolf have both made clear, federal law enforcement officers will not leave until the seat of justice in Portland is secure.”
This echoes the president’s statements from earlier on Wednesday.
“We’re not leaving until they secure their city. If they don’t secure their city soon, we have no choice. We’re gonna have to go in and clean it out,” the president said.
Federal law enforcement officers were sent to Portland to protect federal property, but their presence and tactics have drawn controversy and further stoked violent clashes with protesters.
Demonstrations in the city have persisted since the end of May when George Floyd, a black man, was killed in Minneapolis police custody.
