A person in an Elmo costume disrupted an anti-ICE protest at a detention facility in Portland, Oregon, on Saturday. The incident, captured on camera, involved the unidentified person in the costume posing on the ground in front of the facility’s entrance, crawling around, and dancing in front of demonstrators. The video, filmed by Katie Daviscourt of The Post Millennial, showed the demonstrators attempting to confront the person, but were left confused and frustrated by the unexpected presence of the Elmo costume.
The Elmo incident occurred amid ongoing tensions at the ICE South Waterfront facility, which has become a major flashpoint for conflict between ICE agents and anti-ICE advocates. Earlier this month, Portland’s progressive-leaning city council was exploring ways to expel ICE from the facility, citing alleged violations of a 30-year-old conditional-use permit. City councilors, according to local news outlet Willamette Week, were considering revoking the agency’s permit due to concerns that ICE has been holding detainees for longer than the 12-hour limit allowed under the agreement.
Residents and lawmakers have also raised concerns about the facility undermining the city’s sanctuary city policy, as well as allegations of targeted arrests, gas attacks, and intimidation. Local resident Michelle Dar testified at a council hearing, stating that ‘our values of sanctuary and humanity are under siege’ and that federal agents’ armed actions are threatening the safety of everyone, not just immigrants. Other residents reported that loud bangs and flashbangs from law enforcement had been disrupting life for residents of subsidized housing and students of a local school, with some blaming Antifa for the escalating violence.
Chaotic scenes have been unfolding outside the facility since June, including one incident where a large group of anti-ICE protesters attempted to block law enforcement vehicles from entering and exiting the site. Federal agents deployed rubber bullets, tear gas, and flash bangs to disperse the crowd, according to local media reports. The ongoing tensions have drawn national attention, with recent reports detailing multiple arrests after violent mobs attacked the ICE facility with fireworks and knives.
Fox News’ Michael Dorgan, Alexandra Koch, and Bill Melugin contributed to this report.