Protesters in Portland, Ore., were removed by police in riot gear from outside an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility early Thursday morning.
KOIN News 6 reported that protesters have been camped out at the facility for eight days and were given written notices on both Monday and Tuesday to vacate the area.
Eight people were arrested for refusing to leave, the station reported.
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“At approximately 5:30 a.m. today, federal law enforcement officers initiated a law enforcement action to reopen the federal facility at 4310 SW Macadam Avenue in Portland,” the U.S. Attorney’s Office said in a statement.
ICE shut down the detention center more than a week ago for safety concerns after protesters descended upon the building in response to President Trump’s “zero tolerance” immigration policy. Similar “Occupy ICE” protests have appeared across the country.
Other activists are protesting online by sharing the phone numbers and home addresses of Portland-area ICE employees.
Trump issued an executive order last week ending the practice of separating parents from their children when arrests are made at the border. Coverage of the policy has led to nationwide protests.