PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — The Latest on the occupation outside the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement office in Portland (all times local):

Demonstrators occupying federal property outside the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement office in Portland have been told to leave.

U.S. Attorney for Oregon Billy Williams says protesters have a lawful right to assemble, but are not allowed to block driveways or entrances.

The Occupy ICE PDX protest seeks to abolish ICE and end the Trump administration's "zero tolerance" policy on immigration.

The round-the-clock demonstration outside Portland headquarters began June 17. It increased in size early last week, prompting officials to close the facility.

A team of federal law enforcement officers entered the Immigration and Customs Enforcement building in Portland to secure government property as protesters continued a demonstration against Trump administration immigration policies.

Federal Protective Service spokesman Rob Sperling says officers entered the building at 3:30 a.m. Monday. Protesters did not try to stop them.

Sperling says it's a precautionary move, and there's no indication that activists camped outside the facility have entered it.

Portland's ICE headquarters has been the site of a round-the-clock protest since June 17. The occupation grew in size early last week and the building has been closed since Wednesday.

Sperling says there's no timeframe for when employees will return. </s> PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) - The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility in Portland is closed as protests over President Trump’s immigration policies continued.

Protesters told KATU-TV that shutting down ICE is one of their goals, so they considered Wednesday’s closure a win.

The protest began Sunday, with demonstrators calling for an end to the Trump administration’s “zero tolerance” policy in which all unlawful border crossings are referred for prosecution. The protesters also sought an immediate end to the practice of separating children from their families.

Though the facility was open Tuesday, police were called in to make sure employees could leave safely. </s> (CNN) US Immigration and Customs Enforcement has temporarily closed its field office in Portland, Oregon, as protests continue growing outside the facility.

Dozens of people began protesting against the Trump administration's "zero-tolerance" policy outside the office in southwest Portland last week. Some people began putting up tents near the facility's front door and around the building on Sunday and more have joined them since then.

Operations at the facility, including appointments with deportation officers, were suspended Wednesday and will continue until "security concerns have been addressed," the federal agency said in a statement.

Protests outside the ICE office began last week and developed into an occupation on Sunday.

"US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) fully respects the rights of all people to voice their opinion without interference," the agency said. "ICE remains committed to immigration enforcement consistent with federal law and agency policy."

Employees had been escorted out of the building by police on Tuesday, CNN affiliate KATU reported.

Read More </s> Federal law enforcement officers have begun removing protesters encamped outside a US Immigration and Customs Enforcement field office in Oregon's largest city, officials said Thursday morning, more than a week after the demonstrations forced the Portland facility to close temporarily.

Officers moved in on the encampment of Occupy ICE PDX demonstrators at about 5:30 a.m. PT, the US attorney's office in Oregon said. Officials hope to reopen the facility early next week for the first time since June 20, Federal Protective Service spokesman Robert Sperling said.

An unspecified number of protesters were taken into custody as federal law enforcement personnel cleared a path that includes the facility's driveway and front door, Sperling said.

Officers in riot gear stood shoulder-to-shoulder near the facility, video from CNN affiliate KPTV shows . People who appeared to be demonstrators approached the officers intermittently, talking with them or appearing to record them with cell phone cameras.

Last week, ICE temporarily closed its Portland field offices after demonstrators had pitched tents in front of the facility to protest the Trump administration's policy to criminally prosecute anyone who crosses the border illegally. The policy led to hundreds of children being separated from their parents.

President Donald Trump on June 20 signed an executive order to stop the practice of separating families. Hundreds of families still have not been reunited. On Monday, officers with the Federal Protective Service distributed notices to the Portland demonstrators, ordering them to vacate the property. The US attorney for Oregon said it's illegal to obstruct entrances, lobbies, offices and parking lots of federal buildings, like the one in southwest Portland. </s> PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Federal officials Monday ordered protesters to end their round-the-clock occupation of property outside the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement office in Portland, Oregon.

Law enforcement officers began distributing notices to vacate late Monday morning. The several hundred protesters have so far ignored the demand.

"We acknowledge the community's concerns driving these demonstrations. While demonstrators have a lawful right to assemble and voice their concerns, blocking the building's driveways or entrances is not permitted under federal law," U.S. Attorney for Oregon Billy Williams said in a statement.

The group rallying under the moniker Occupy ICE PDX wants to abolish ICE and end the Trump administration's "zero tolerance" policy in which all unlawful border crossings are referred for prosecution.

Occupy ICE PDX last week called for similar occupations throughout the country, and demonstrators have responded in places such as New York, Los Angeles and Detroit.

Earlier Monday, federal law enforcement officers entered the Portland's ICE headquarters to secure government property ahead of the vacate notice.

The action taken at 3:30 a.m., when many protesters were in their tents, was a precautionary move to protect information and equipment, said Rob Sperling, spokesman for Federal Protective Service, which is responsible for protecting federal buildings.

The protesters did not try to thwart officers. "This morning's entry was peaceful and smooth," Sperling said.

Portland's ICE headquarters has been the site of an occupation since June 17. The occupation grew in size early last week, and the building has been closed since Wednesday. There's no indication that protesters have gone inside the facility, Sperling said.

Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler has said police in this sanctuary city won't help federal officers evict any protesters.

Carissa Cutrell, an ICE spokeswoman, said last week that people who had appointments scheduled at the office will be contacted by deportation officers to have their meetings rescheduled. The appointments will not be reported as missed check-ins.

Cutrell declined to say how many people work at the Portland office, or if they have been working from home since it was closed because of security concerns. </s> Federal law enforcement officers on Thursday morning began removing some protesters encamped outside a US Immigration and Customs Enforcement field office in Oregon’s largest city, officials said, more than a week after the demonstrations forced the Portland facility to close temporarily.

Officers moved in on the encampment of Occupy ICE PDX demonstrators at about 5:30 a.m. PT, the US attorney’s office in Oregon said. Officials hope to reopen the facility early next week for the first time since June 20, Federal Protective Service spokesman Robert Sperling said.

An unspecified number of protesters were taken into custody as federal law enforcement personnel cleared a path that includes the facility’s driveway and front door, Sperling said.

Officers in riot gear stood shoulder-to-shoulder, protecting the path to the entrance, video from CNN affiliate KPTV shows. Protesters remained in the area, with some approaching the officers intermittently, talking with them or appearing to record them with cell phone cameras.

In a tweet Thursday, Occupy ICE PDX — PDX is the code for Portland’s main airport — acknowledged officers were clearing people from in front of the building but said protesters “aren’t going anywhere.”

Last week, ICE temporarily closed its Portland field offices after demonstrators had pitched tents in front of the facility to protest the Trump administration’s policy to criminally prosecute anyone who crosses the border illegally. The policy led to hundreds of children being separated from their parents.

Amid criticism, President Donald Trump on June 20 signed an executive order to stop the practice of separating families. Hundreds of families still have not been reunited.

On Monday, officers with the Federal Protective Service distributed notices to the Portland demonstrators, ordering them to vacate the property. The US attorney for Oregon said it’s illegal to obstruct entrances, lobbies, offices and parking lots of federal buildings, like the one in southwest Portland.

Occupy ICE movements have popped up in various cities, including New York City, Los Angeles and Detroit, in opposition to the immigration policies. </s> PORTLAND, Ore. — Nine people were arrested Thursday morning after federal officers in riot gear moved in to clear the entrance to the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement holding facility in Southwest Portland.

The ICE facility has been closed since Wednesday, June 20 after the protest group, calling themselves Occupy ICE PDX, set up camp with the goal of shutting down the immigration enforcement agency.

Seven protesters were charged with failing to comply with directions given by law enforcement officers, and blocking the building's entrances. The charges are Class C misdemeanors and the protesters were released, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office in Oregon.

An eighth protester was detained on a state charge of interfering with a peace officer and remains at the Multnomah County Detention Center.

A ninth person was detained after he drove his black SUV near a police line and federal agents saw what appeared to be two rifles in the backseat.

"Three airsoft guns were found in the vehicle. The individual was later released without being charged," the U.S. Attorney's Office said.

"At approximately 5:30 a.m. today, federal law enforcement officers initiated a law enforcement action to reopen the federal facility at 4310 SW Macadam Avenue in Portland," Federal Protective Service spokesman Robert Sperling said in a prepared statement.

Officers cleared the entrance to the building and arrested eight people who were taken to the federal courthouse in downtown Portland. A ninth was taken into custody later in the morning.

Activists said they are represented by the National Lawyers Guild.

Sperling described the sweep of the entrance as peaceful.

Police took no action against those who set up a camp alongside the building. Sperling said those outside ICE property would not be removed, and police would not interact with them.

"We don't want to impede their freedom of speech," he said.

He said to expect a federal police presence around the ICE building "for the foreseeable future," and that the next step was for the facility to reopen for "business as usual" sometime next week.

As officers cleared the entrance Thursday morning, truckloads of tents, boards, even a couch, were hauled away from the entrance.

TriMet announced that there would be no service at stops on Southwest Moody, River Parkway, Macadam and Boundary during this incident.

Mayor Ted Wheeler, who also serves as police commissioner, has declined to provide assistance from the Portland Police Bureau to Department of Homeland Security during the siege.

Social media posts on Thursday morning showed Portland police vehicles blocking traffic near the protest. The Portland Police Bureau said that action was in order to identify alternative routes for drivers.

"In line with the Mayor and Police Commissioner’s directions, the Police Bureau was not involved in the Federal Protective Services (FPS) actions as it related to Occupy ICE PDX," said PPB Sgt. Chris Burley. "Portland Police Bureau officers recognized the need to assist motorists in identifying alternative routes around road closures due to actions related to Occupy ICE PDX."

"As of approximately 8:10 a.m., the Portland Police Bureau is no longer providing traffic control and other agencies have taken over diverting traffic," Burley said.

Sperling said the two police agencies continue a cooperative relationship and that Portland police were made aware of the action Thursday morning.

Activist Jacob Bureros was at the camp when police arrived. He said Portland police officers were there assisting federal police.

A protest camp coordinator, Lillith Sinclair, told KGW that Homeland Security officers "have been playing mind games" for several days. Bureros described it as "frat boys" behavior.

Sinclair and Bureros both said cardboard cutouts of officers were placed in the ICE building windows to make it appear their presence was larger. Homeland Security played officers played loud music at night to keep protesters awake. One officer walked around with an eagle mask on his head.

They specifically blared Metallica's "Enter Sandman," a song about nightmares and lack of sleep.

Bureros and activist Danialle James said two plain-clothes DHS officers came into the camp early Thursday morning as federal police began to clear the front entrance of the ICE building. The activists allege that DHS officers stole cellphones from a charging station, including one owned by James.

Before the Thursday morning sweep, notices that outlined which trespassing laws protesters were violating were handed out and posted for three consecutive days. The flyers did not give notice of Thursday's evacuation.

Sinclair said that since Portland is a sanctuary city, ICE is the agency who is violating the law. Her group, Occupy ICE PDX, wants ICE removed from Oregon and abolished in its entirety as a federal agency.

"It's become a crime to help a human being," James told KGW.

Bureros said ICE has "created a false narrative" about the encampment keeping them from performing their duties. Much of the administrative work is done in a separate building.

"They just want their jail back," he said.

Spokesman Sperling of the Federal Protective Service declined to comment on the overall message of the protesters.

"Everyone is entitled to their opinion," he said.

The Occupy ICE PDX protest is in its second week. Thursday marked the ninth day the Portland ICE holding facility has been closed because of the protests.

NORCOR jail in the Dalles still housing detainees as 2 other jails end ICE contracts </s> PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) - The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement office in Portland has been closed for a second day because of a demonstration against Trump administration immigration policies.

Agency spokeswoman Carissa Cutrell says people who had appointments scheduled for Thursday will be contacted by deportation officers to have their meetings rescheduled. The appointments will not be reported as missed check-ins.

Cutrell declined to say how many people work at the Portland office, or if they have been working from home.

The round-the-clock protest began Sunday, with protesters calling for an end to the Trump administration’s “zero tolerance” policy in which all unlawful border crossings are referred for prosecution.

Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler, a Trump critic, says he does not want city police involved in any effort to end the protest. </s> PORTLAND, Ore. -- U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement temporarily closed its Southwest Portland office on Wednesday, citing security concerns amid protests.

ICE spokeswoman Carissa Cutrell said appointments scheduled for Wednesday at the office on Southwest Macadam Avenue have been canceled.

"Normal operations will resume once security concerns have been addressed," she said.

A group of protesters have set up camp outside ICE's Portland headquarters to protest the Trump administration's recent policy of separating families after illegal border crossings.

In an about-face, President Trump announced on Wednesday he planned to issue an executive order to halt family separations at the U.S./Mexico border, which have been taking place for the past two months. NBC News confirmed Trump signed the order just after noon.

More than 2,000 immigrant children have reportedly been separated from their parents.

About two dozen protesters gathered Tuesday for a round-the-clock vigil and vowed not to leave until the policy changed.

The protesters, calling themselves 'Occupy ICE PDX,' have been preventing ICE vehicles entering or leaving the facility.

"It shouldn't be happening, it's unacceptable," Dan McLean told KGW. "I'm getting excited just talking about it. It really gets to me."

On Tuesday, ICE said the Federal Protective Service was called for security reasons, as protesters rallied. One person blocking a car was taken into custody.

"U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) fully respects the rights of all people to voice their opinion without interference. ICE remains committed to immigration enforcement consistent with federal law and agency policy. The Federal Protective Service was called to the ICE office on Macadam Avenue this afternoon due to security concerns resulting from the ongoing protests at this location. Questions regarding arrests that took place should be directed to the Federal Protective Service," ICE said in a statement.

The owner of Fifty Licks Ice Cream parked a truck outside the facility and treated demonstrators to free ice cream.

Elsewhere in Oregon, demonstrators gathered at the Federal Correction Institute in Sheridan, where 123 adult asylum seekers are being held.

Sheridan is about 60 miles southwest of Portland.
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement temporarily closes their Portland, Oregon, offices after protesters camping outside the building grow in numbers.