For weeks, buzzing, low-flying helicopters have circled the air above South Portland’s U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement building, to the ire of neighbors and demonstrators who’ve joined protests outside. While there’s little public information about the federally operated helicopters, new data shows just how detrimental their presence has reportedly been on Portlanders.

President Donald Trump first threatened to send federalized National Guard members to Portland on Sept. 27. In the week following his announcement, the Port of Portland received at least 540 complaints from residents about loud aircraft noise in the region. That’s more than double the total number of complaints that the Port received over the preceding two months.

“The constant helicopters and planes going over downtown Portland are infuriating,” reads one complaint sent Sept. 28 to the Port, which owns three Portland-area airports and oversees aircraft noise complaints in the region. “I am a nurse and need sleep. This is ridiculous.”

“Non-stop, low flying, multiple helicopters, extremely loud,” reads another sent Sept. 30. “I have a chronic illness and am completely wrecked from sleepless nights back-to-back.”

Another reads: “I have been deployed to Afghanistan, and this is worse.”

The litany of complaints mentions incessant noise, strobing lights from low-flying aircraft, and walls rattling as helicopters fly overhead. People report headaches, anxiety attacks, pet meltdowns and behavioral issues in children. Many complainants placed blame squarely on the federal government.

“I know they are doing it on purpose to make our lives miserable and instigate us,” reads a complaint from Oct. 2. “They are the ones making us feel like we live in a war zone.”

Trump announced plans to send the National Guard to Portland last month after declaring the city a “war zone,” citing a need to defend federal employees from people protesting outside the ICE facility. Since June, the building has drawn continuous protests, which have also drawn numerous noise complaints, 911 calls and a lawsuit. While some demonstrations have seen moments of violence, the vast majority of the events have been small-scale and largely uneventful.

Trump’s plan to deploy troops on Portland streets remains held up in court. But the legal delays haven’t kept federal aircraft from occupying the city’s airspace. Reports of black military helicopters hovering low over South Portland came before Trump first announced plans to send the National Guard to the city.

“The helicopters flew circles relentlessly throughout the night,” reads one complaint sent at 7 a.m. on Sept. 27, referencing the previous night’s activities. “It shook my windows and disturbed me and my animals. Please address whatever is happening.”

Political response

Portland city councilors who represent South Portland neighborhoods in District 4 have been quick to condemn the helicopter use.

District 4 Councilor Eric Zimmerman said that by deploying military helicopters over Portland, the federal government is adding to the “false narrative” that the city is in danger and in need of intervention.

“It’s also an intimidation tactic against American citizens, something that’s also deeply un-American and irresponsible,” said Zimmerman, who is a member of the Oregon National Guard. “It’s costly, it’s uncalled for, and a bullying tactic to create fake news and disruption in a residential neighborhood.”

Fellow District 4 Councilor Mitch Green, a U.S. Army veteran, said the helicopters were “terrorizing” Portlanders.

“I’m outraged that our own federal government is inflicting this on my constituents, and I expect this to activate many of them politically,” said Green, who has called for current and former members of the U.S. military to speak out against Trump’s actions in Portland.

The impact of helicopters has also caught the attention of national politicians. Four of Oregon’s Democrats in Congress who represent areas of Portland sent a letter to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem on Friday condemning the helicopter use.

“Portland residents are understandably confused and frustrated by the ongoing presence of the helicopters,” the letter, sent by U.S. Representatives Suzanne Bonamici and Maxine Dexter, and Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley. “Portland residents want and deserve to feel safe in their homes. Sending helicopters to circle over residential areas for multiple hours each day disturbs the peace and quiet they deserve to enjoy in their neighborhoods.”

The letter asked Noem to explain its need for helicopter patrols in Portland, and what the government is doing to deter harm to neighbors. They gave Noem an Oct. 20 deadline to respond.

Hard to track

Numerous noise reports sent to the Port of Portland after Sept. 27 noted that the helicopters don’t show up on publicly available flight radars.

That data, which relies on a frequency called the Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B), has identified several Homeland Security helicopters taking off from Hillsboro Airport before flying above the Portland ICE facility.

But these frequencies have occasionally gone offline for periods of time while above the building. These signals are usually required to be on for all aircraft, with some exceptions. The FAA did not respond to OPB’s request about whether these helicopters are exempt from using an ADS-B. In an automated email response, the FAA wrote it’s “not responding to routine media inquiries” due to the government shutdown.

In January, an Army Black Hawk helicopter flying over the Potomac River bordering Washington, D.C., crashed into a commercial plane, killing everyone on board. At the time, the helicopter had switched off its ADS-B because of the confidentiality of the flight mission. Earlier this week, members of Congress announced plans to craft a bipartisan bill that would eliminate most exemptions from ADS-B use by military helicopters.

Mike Benner, a spokesperson for the Portland Police Bureau, said, “It would be irresponsible to say there’s no risk” to the police aircraft operating in the same airspace as planes without an ADS-B on.

“That said,” Benner added, “Our pilots can communicate with the other pilots through a common radio frequency and in turn that deconflicts any concerns we may have.”

The unreliable frequencies haven’t impacted other emergency air transport so far, either. Life Flight Network operates air ambulance helicopters that land at Oregon Health and Science University helipads in South Portland. A Life Flight spokesperson said the increased helicopter activity in the neighborhood hasn’t interfered with their operations.

There’s a lot unknown about the federal helicopters’ purpose in Portland’s skies. But it doesn’t appear they’re leaving soon.

On Wednesday, the Federal Aviation Administration issued a month-long restriction on any non-government aircraft using the airspace above the ICE office for “special security reasons.” The restriction specifically allows aircraft use to support national defense and homeland security, along with other law enforcement needs.

The ban, which starts Friday and lasts until Nov. 17, is only for aircraft and drones flying up to 400 feet above ground level. That means that commercial flights aren’t impacted by the restriction. Portland police, who may be exempt from the restriction, are also not impacted, since their small Cessna 182 planes operate above 400 feet.

The FAA also approved a similar month-long ban on using drones in the airspace above Camp Withycombe, an active military training site for the state’s National Guard, located in Clackamas County. Earlier this month, 200 members of the California Guard arrived at the camp, sent by Trump to respond to ICE protests. While their deployment has been put on hold as the federal courts determine whether the order is allowed, Gov. Tina Kotek told OPB that the guard members remain on-site.

The Port of Portland can’t control who operates aircraft in Portland. But they do investigate noise complaints.

“We hear the community’s frustration and take community concerns we receive seriously,” said Molly Prescott, a spokesperson for the Port. “In this particular situation involving the recent increase in helicopter noise complaints, we have informed the FAA about the high volume of negative community feedback we are receiving.”

Prescott directed OPB’s questions about safety concerns to the FAA.

Several of the people who sent complaints to the Port acknowledge the local government’s limited control.

“I know the government of Portland has limited options, but I hope whoever reads this, if anyone, can at least help a little by forwarding this sentiment,” reads a complaint from Sept. 27. “Here’s to shouting into the void.”

News Source : https://www.opb.org/article/2025/10/17/portland-aircraft-helicopters-border-patrol-ice-immigration-federal-law-enforcement/