ICE Arrests Surge in Oregon Following Trump Quota Increase

Federal immigration agents arrested approximately 1,100 people in Oregon in 2025, a sharp increase from 113 arrests in 2024. The surge followed a decision by Donald Trump in the spring of 2025 to raise the national daily ICE arrest quota from 1,000 to 3,000. To meet these targets, ICE Regional Director Cammilla Wamsley doubled the daily arrest goal for the Oregon, Washington, and Alaska region to 30.

U.S. Border Patrol Chief John Michael Higgins reported that over 560 arrests occurred in Portland during October 2025 alone. Analysis from the Deportation Data Project indicates a shift in the demographics of those detained; only 32% of 2025 arrests involved individuals with criminal convictions, compared to 45% in 2024.

Local governments responded by declaring emergencies to support immigrant communities in cities including Salem, Forest Grove, and Woodburn. There are conflicting reports regarding the total number of arrests, with the Portland Immigration Rights Coalition citing over 1,000 and Oregon for All reporting 1,900.