Slotkin Statement on Use of Unidentified, Federal Troops to Quell Protests

Statement

U.S. Rep. Elissa Slotkin (MI-08) released the following statement regarding the deployment of unidentified, federal forces to quell anti-racism protests in Portland.

"I was deeply concerned to see the Administration has deployed Border Patrol Tactical Units (BORTAC) to Oregon to respond to protests in Portland. These are the same, elite border security forces we use to go after highly-armed drug cartels and to counter smuggling. They are trained to hunt down murderers evading ordinary police in rugged terrain or put down a riot at a prison ---- not to respond to acts of vandalism during protests. As reporting based on a leaked DHS memo now reveals, they fundamentally lack proper training to respond to protests by American citizens exercising their first amendment rights.

"Just as important is the way in which these federal forces were inserted into the protests: First, as I understand it, state and local law enforcement did not request or authorize federal assistance. Every American familiar with our Constitution should be concerned that any Administration of any party would insert federal forces without the request and permission of state and local officials.

"Second, even if federal forces had been requested, it is critical that any and all intervening federal officers properly and publicly identify themselves. The use of unidentifiable federal law enforcement ---- lacking insignia and identification ---- is disturbing to anyone with a respect for history. On July 10, the Federal Protective Service briefed the Homeland Security Committee, and told us that visible agency identification is typically required for DHS officers and that their leadership had specifically checked to make sure DHS officers were complying with this requirement when policing protests in other parts of the U.S. But it appears that requirement was not followed in Portland.

This insertion of federal force in Portland seems to fit into a trend of this Administration using both the military and federal forces for political reasons, rather than for the objective security needs of the United States. We cannot allow our non-partisan security forces to become a politicized tool of any one president. All Americans, of all political persuasions, should reject such a dangerous trend, done in our name."

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