SerpApi.Org
Federal officials misused force against protesters more than 400 times over the past year, according to a new report documenting incidents in five cities, including Portland.
Why it matters: The report is the first to systematically quantify alleged misuse of force by federal officers as protests over aggressive immigration enforcement have expanded nationwide.
By the numbers: Researchers at the University of California, Berkeley, and Physicians for Human Rights documented 412 incidents in which federal and local law enforcement misused crowd-control weapons between June 2025 and May of this year.
- 47 of those incidents occurred in Oregon, per the report, with 37 in Portland and 10 in Eugene.
- In Portland, most incidents (54%) involved chemical irritants like tear gas.
Context: Researchers defined "misuse" as "outside of the rules governing how crowd-control weapons should be used" according to standards from weapons manufacturers, law enforcement organizations and use-of-force policies.
What they're saying: Despite widespread reports of injuries, before the report "there really wasn't any systematic documentation occurring," Payal Shah, director of research at Physicians for Human Rights, told OPB.
The other side: Department of Homeland Security officers "take every reasonable precaution to mitigate dangers to those exercising their protected First Amendment rights," a spokesperson told OPB.
- "The pattern is NOT of law enforcement using force," the DHS spokesperson said. "It's a pattern of violent agitators attacking our law enforcement."
What's next: Tear gas use in Portland spurred two lawsuits from demonstrators, journalists and nearby residents.
- The 9th Circuit heard arguments this month and could issue a ruling any day.
