The Justice Department has launched an investigation into the Portland Police Department (PPB) over claims of “viewpoint discrimination,” following the arrest of a conservative journalist and other incidents involving law enforcement responses to protests near an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility.
Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon, head of the civil rights division, sent a letter to Portland City Attorney Robert Taylor and Police Chief Bob Day on Friday, citing concerns about the PPB’s handling of events surrounding the ICE facility. The letter highlighted allegations that police actions may have targeted individuals based on their political views, including the arrest of a conservative journalist.
Dhillon’s office requested unredacted incident reports related to use-of-force cases, arrests, and communications with officers responding to protests at the ICE facility over the past 30 days. The materials were due by October 10.
The inquiry comes as Portland officials faced legal challenges to deploy National Guard troops to protect federal property. Dhillon emphasized the importance of accountability in a separate post, stating, “Portland Police Department—the First Amendment is NOT optional!” She also mentioned contacting Nick Sortor, a conservative influencer arrested outside an ICE facility on Thursday, and Attorney General Pam Bondi about the situation.
Sortor, one of three individuals detained during the protest, was released on his own recognizance. He shared Dhillon’s letter on social media, praising her swift action. The DOJ has also sought body camera footage and details about alleged attacks on journalists in Portland, with police reportedly failing to intervene.
The city remains under a long-standing consent decree over its policing practices, which critics say have repeatedly failed to meet federal standards.