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Portland Tenants Urge Court to Limit Tear Gas Near ICE Building as Hearings Begin

Residents seek an injunction after reporting chemical agents drifting into Gray's Landing that caused illnesses.

Overview

  • Tenants and the building manager testified Friday before U.S. District Judge Amy Baggio, with the hearing expected to continue into next week.
  • The plaintiffs ask to restrict federal officers from using tear gas and similar munitions near the apartments unless facing an imminent threat to life.
  • Justice Department lawyers argue the residents lack standing and say any exposure stems from lawful crowd-control deployments that do not violate due process.
  • Court filings and testimony describe repeated January deployments, gas entering homes, a canister breaking a third-floor window, ER and urgent-care visits, and recorded 911 calls about breathing distress.
  • A separate ACLU case produced a temporary order limiting tear gas at the site through Feb. 17, as county officials report at least 29 protest-related ER or urgent-care treatments since June 2025 and federal agencies defend their tactics as responses to violent or obstructive crowds.