Portland police officers shocked entrenched protesters outside the city’s U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement building Saturday night by clearing away their tents and supplies that had fully blocked sidewalks.

The chaotic scene took place starting at 8:30 p.m. amid pouring rain. Officers showed up in force and, with only minutes of warning, began dismantling the protesters’ sidewalk compound.

Officers told protesters who accused them of aiding federal immigration officials they were merely enforcing city laws. Arriving police warned they would be stepping up enforcement of violations such as blocking sidewalks, consuming alcohol or drugs in public, jaywalking and the like.

Conservative streamers and counterprotesters gleefully watched from as close as inside the tents.

The police

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