The protests, largely led by Antifa-affiliated groups, have turned a quiet neighborhood into a battleground, with federal agents using tear gas and crowd-control measures against protesters employing makeshift defenses. The situation escalated when a guillotine was brought to the ICE site, leading to more clashes and arrests. Trump has labeled the protesters "terrorists" and threatened to "wipe them out" if the National Guard is deployed, reflecting his strategy of using federal forces to address perceived lawlessness in Democrat-run cities, as previously seen in Los Angeles. Tina Kotek strongly opposes the potential deployment, arguing that the protests have been "peaceful" and that federal intervention could escalate tensions. Despite her assurances, Portland Police have been largely absent from the site, citing sanctuary policies as a reason for their limited response.