Ninth Circuit Court Allows DHS to Continue Chemical Munitions Use Near Portland Housing Community
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit has issued a ruling that permits the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to continue deploying chemical munitions near Gray’s Landing, an affordable housing complex in Portland, Oregon. This community is situated adjacent to an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility. For several months, federal agents had used chemical agents, including tear gas, smoke grenades, and pepper balls, in the vicinity of the housing complex during protests at the nearby ICE facility. Residents of Gray’s Landing, which includes children, seniors, veterans, and individuals with disabilities, reported that these chemical agents infiltrated their apartments, hallways, and common areas. The reported health impacts included respiratory distress, chest pain, and panic attacks, with some residents resorting to sealing their homes and wearing gas masks indoors to mitigate exposure. Earlier in the legal proceedings, a district court had issued an injunction to prevent fede...
