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

Washington, D.C. – Today, Oregon’s U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley and 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 the Preventing Authoritarian Policing Tactics on America's Streets Act after 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. The Preventing Authoritarian Policing Tactics on America's Streets Act is a critical step against a gross violation of Americans’ civil rights.”

“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.”

The Preventing Authoritarian Policing Tactics on America's Streets Act would 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 and Bonamici first led the Senate and House introduction of the Preventing Authoritarian Policing Tactics on America's Streets Act after unmarked federal forces grabbed protestors off the street in Portland.

The Preventing Authoritarian Policing Tactics on America's Streets Act:

• Requires that law enforcement or other members of an armed force display identifying information in a clearly visible fashion at all times, and prevents unmarked vehicles from being used in arrests;
• Limits federal agents' crowd control activities to federal property and its immediate vicinity, unless their presence is specifically requested by both the mayor and governor;
• Requires disclosure on an agency website within 24 hours of deployments specifying the number of personnel and purposes of deployment; and
• Makes arrests in violation of these rules unlawful.

In addition to Merkley and Bonamici, the bill is cosponsored by Senators Ron Wyden (D-OR), 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 the Preventing Authoritarian Policing Tactics on America's Streets Act can be found by clicking here as introduced in the Senate, and here as introduced in the House.

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