ICE Agents Face Complaint Over Tire Slashing in Oregon

A confrontation between federal immigration officers and two observers in Hillsboro, Oregon, has prompted an administrative complaint alleging retaliation against people documenting law enforcement activity. The couple says ICE agents pursued their vehicle, surrounded it, and punctured a tire after they recorded officers in a grocery store parking lot on October 7.

The couple submitted the complaint to the Department of Homeland Security earlier this month, according to the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), which is supporting their allegations. Video footage supplied by the ACLU shows an officer approaching the couple's vehicle with a knife and attempting to damage a tire.

The incident began at a Safeway parking lot near 185th Avenue and Cornell Road. According to the complaint, the couple had been observing and recording several ICE agents from a distance when officers approached their vehicle.

The couple alleges that agents attempted to block their car using government vehicles and a shopping cart. They subsequently drove away because they feared for their safety, but the ICE vehicles followed them onto nearby streets.

According to the complaint, the pursuing vehicles drove aggressively and nearly struck the couple's car. The documents also state that the officers did not activate emergency lights or sirens during the pursuit.

The confrontation escalated near the intersection of Stucki Avenue and Cornell Road, where the couple says agents surrounded their vehicle. One officer allegedly exited his vehicle, approached without speaking, produced a black knife, and stabbed toward the rear passenger-side tire.

Video footage obtained by NBC News also shows an ICE officer getting out of a vehicle twice and using a knife in attempts to puncture the couple's tire. The couple described the experience as terrifying.

In their statement released through the ACLU, the couple said they believed the incident reflected a broader problem involving the treatment of people who document federal enforcement activities.

"What happened to us is not unique and that is what is so terrifying," the couple said in a statement issued by the ACLU.

They explained that their observations and recordings were intended to document government activities and raise public awareness about alleged misconduct by federal officers.

"We observe and record public ICE activity in order to shine a light on their abusive behavior and to create a record of what our government is up to. Because of that, they are terrorizing us and anyone else who dares to exercise their First Amendment right to hold our government accountable. We hope that sharing our story will bring attention to their reckless and unconstitutional attacks on our communities," the couple said.

The complaint asks DHS to conduct a comprehensive investigation, preserve relevant evidence, and take disciplinary action against the officers involved. It also calls for broader reviews of allegations that ICE personnel intimidate or retaliate against members of the public who record enforcement operations.

The ACLU is additionally seeking institutional changes to ICE training, supervision, and accountability procedures to safeguard the public's First Amendment rights.

In response to questions from KATU News, a DHS spokesperson confirmed that the incident was under investigation.

"ICE law enforcement officers are trained to use the minimum amount of force necessary to resolve dangerous situations to prioritize the safety of the public and our officers," the DHS spokesperson said.

The spokesperson also defended the agency's professional standards and responsibilities.

"The men and women of ICE are entrusted with upholding the rule of law and are held to the highest standards of professionalism, integrity, and ethical conduct," the DHS spokesperson said.

The dispute also raises questions about federal vehicle-pursuit procedures. DHS's Emergency Driving handbook states that ICE and Homeland Security Investigations officers may use tire-deflation devices approved by the HSI Special Activities Unit during or instead of low-risk or high-risk vehicle pursuits.

The handbook describes approved devices as equipment such as road spikes or stop sticks, designed to deflate vehicle tires in a controlled manner. However, it does not provide a list identifying the specific approved devices.

The administrative complaint seeks scrutiny of both the Hillsboro encounter and broader federal enforcement practices. DHS has confirmed that the Oregon incident remains under investigation.