Merkley, Wyden, Bonamici Introduce Bill to Stop Occupation of American Cities by Federal Law Enforcement, Armed Forces

Washington, D.C. – Today, Oregon’s U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden, along with Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01), announced legislation to block the Trump Administration from deploying federal law enforcement and armed forces against Americans. Merkley and Bonamici introduced thePreventing Authoritarian Policing Tactics on America’s Streets Actafter the chaos in Los Angeles and in light of reports of increasing numbers of federal officers around the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility on South Macadam Avenue in Portland. White House Border Czar Tom Homan has also announced he is planning a visit to the city.
“Heavily armed, unidentified federal forces in unmarked vehicles grabbing protesters off the street are the actions of an authoritarian regime and have no place in our democratic republic,”said Senator Jeff Merkley.“We cannot allow these secret police tactics and attacks on our fundamental freedoms. ThePreventing Authoritarian Policing Tactics on America’s Streets Actis a critical step against a gross violation of Americans’ civil rights.”
“Donald Trump’s authoritarian obsession with his unidentified federal agents swooping into U.S. cities and dragging people off the streets into unmarked vehicles is unconscionable and un-American,”said Senator Ron Wyden.“As the son of parents who fled Nazi Germany for refuge in America, I heard throughout my childhood from my mom and dad how people yanked off the streets of Berlin were among the first awful steps on a path to the most unimaginable horrors. That’s not going to happen on my watch here in Oregon or anywhere else.”
“Oregonians remember the last time Donald Trump deployed unidentified federal officers to Portland,”said Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici. “The forces sent to Oregon in 2020 inflamed tensions and increased danger to peaceful protestors and others in the area. This authoritarian behavior cannot be tolerated. I’m leading this legislation to protect Portland and cities across the country from occupation by unwanted federal law enforcement and armed forces.”
ThePreventing Authoritarian Policing Tactics on America’s Streets Actwould limit the deployment of federal law enforcement officers or armed forces to a city unless the aid is requested by both the mayor and governor. The legislation also requires identifying information to be clearly displayed, prevents the use of unmarked vehicles in arrests, and more.
In 2020, Merkley, Wyden, and Bonamici first led the Senate and Houseintroduction of thePreventing Authoritarian Policing Tactics on America’s Streets Actafter unmarked federal forces grabbed protestors off the street in Portland.
ThePreventing Authoritarian Policing Tactics on America’s Streets Act:
In addition to Merkley, Wyden, and Bonamici, the bill is cosponsored by Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Patty Murray (D-WA), and Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) and Representatives Maxine Dexter (OR-03), Val Hoyle (OR-04), Andrea Salinas (OR-06), Chellie Pingree (ME-01), Eleanor Holmes Norton (DC-AL), Judy Chu (CA-28), Ilhan Omar (MN-05), Nanette Barragán (CA-44), Paul Tonko (NY-20), Nydia Velázquez (NY-07), Lou Correa (CA-46), Doris Matsui (CA-07), and Lateefah Simon (CA-12).
Full text of thePreventing Authoritarian Policing Tactics on America’s Streets Actcan be found by clickinghereas introduced in the Senate, andhereas introduced in the House.
This press release has been updated.
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