Oregon Governor Declares Federal Agents Are Leaving Portland, but DHS Says Not So Fast

By Washington Times. 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 signaled 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.” . . .

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 a statement from acting DHS Secretary Chad Wolf offers no timeline and suggests that the drawdown process will not be immediate.

“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. (Read more from “Oregon Governor Declares Federal Agents Are Leaving Portland, but DHS Says Not So Fast” HERE)

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Federal Agents Withdraw From Portland

By New York Times. Federal tactical teams that have clashed with protesters in Portland in recent weeks will soon begin leaving the city, Gov. Kate Brown of Oregon said Wednesday.

Under an agreement between Ms. Brown and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, the governor’s office said the Oregon State Police will provide security for the exterior of the city’s federal courthouse, while the usual team of federal officers that protects the courthouse year-round will continue to provide security for the interior of the building.

Ms. Brown said the federal tactical teams that had deployed to the city would begin a phased withdrawal on Thursday. But Chad Wolf, the acting secretary of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, said in a statement that though the department has agreed with the Oregon governor on a plan, the department will proceed with the withdrawal of security personnel in Portland only if federal officials are confident that federal properties will no longer be under attack. (Read more from “Federal Agents Withdraw From Portland” HERE)

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