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'I sleep with a gas mask on': Life next to Portland protest angering Trump

October 8, 2025

Residents of Gray's Landing apartments in Portland's South Waterfront neighborhood are experiencing nightly clashes between federal agents and protesters opposing Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations. The conflict has transformed the area into what some residents describe as a "war zone," with tear gas seeping into homes and violence occurring on their doorstep. While President Trump characterizes Portland as "burning to the ground" and seeks to deploy National Guard troops, a federal judge has temporarily halted these plans, ruling that Trump may have "exceeded his constitutional authority.

Who is affected

  • Residents of Gray's Landing apartment complex
  • The Cottonwood School (which relocated due to "munitions" in the playground)
  • Protesters demonstrating against ICE
  • Federal ICE agents stationed at the facility
  • The broader Portland community, particularly in the South Waterfront neighborhood
  • Brennah Hammar and other named residents (Cindy Colgrove, Mai Tai Boyd)

What action is being taken

  • Federal agents are using tear gas and impact munitions against protesters
  • Building management is placing industrial air scrubbers throughout the complex to filter tear gas
  • White sticky pads are being placed at entrances to collect tear gas chemicals
  • Mayor Keith Wilson is calling for an investigation into actions taken by ICE agents
  • Residents are adapting to the situation (wearing gas masks indoors, carrying self-defense weapons, limiting outdoor activities to daytime)
  • Protests are continuing nightly outside the ICE facility

Why it matters

  • The situation represents a test case for President Trump's plan to deploy troops to Democratic-run cities
  • Constitutional questions are being raised about federal authority versus local control
  • The conflict highlights deep political divisions within the community regarding immigration enforcement
  • Local residents are experiencing health impacts and safety concerns in their homes
  • Community institutions like schools have been forced to relocate due to the ongoing conflict
  • The situation underscores tensions between federal immigration policies and local opposition

What's next

  • No explicit next steps stated in the article

Read full article from source: BBC