President Donald Trump declared his immigration enforcement policies have led to the “strongest border in American history by far” during Tuesday’s State of the Union speech.

In the past year, the Trump administration has expanded deportations and bolstered the U.S. Department of Homeland Security — two of the president’s signature promises on the campaign trail.

Immigration enforcement operations have grown increasingly aggressive and visible. Those tactics have also led to violence, widespread demonstrations and major civil rights concerns.

OPB’s documentary series “The Crackdown” follows how those policies are playing out across the Pacific Northwest.

In response to the federal government’s deportation efforts, massive protests have erupted across the country. In June, tens of thousands of people turned out to “No Kings” demonstrations nationwide.

Those large demonstrations were followed in Portland by persistent, nightly protests throughout the summer outside the ICE facility in the city’s South Waterfront neighborhood. The crowd size fluctuated nightly, but there were frequent clashes between federal agents and protesters.

In the fall of 2025, Portland’s protests had largely quieted, but still managed to capture national attention, leading Trump to order National Guard troops to protect the Immigration and Customs Enforcement building.

In this first episode of “The Crackdown,” we take a look at the protests in Portland, where nightly demonstrations on a single city block escalated into a test of presidential power.

News Source : https://www.opb.org/article/2026/02/27/national-guard-portland-ice-protests/