
BREAKING: Activists in Bend OR block two private prisoner transport buses allegedly containing two I.C.E. detainees
A crowd of Immigration activists in Bend, Oregon are currently blocking two buses reportedly holding at least 2 people that were picked up on outstanding warrants according to several reports.
According to various live-streams posted online, people first noticed the buses parked in a parking lot at the Crane Shed Commons in Bend around 1200. The buses were prevented from leaving the parking lot shortly after by a few isolated protesters. As the news of the blockade spread via social media, more people came down to the location. According to The Bulletin Bend City Councilor Barb Campbell also joined the protesters by parking her vehicle directly in-front of one of the buses.
Bend’s Mayor, Sally Russell posted on Twitter that the two men detained by Immigration and Customs officers have warrants out for their arrest, and confirmed that these arrests were not part of a larger sweep for undocumented immigrants.
Several protesters were seen attempting to slash the tires on one of the buses while other protesters wrote “ICE” on the side of the trucks. The buses, which are privately owned by GEO Transport, which “provide armed, secure transportation services to federal, state and local government agencies in the United States and internationally,” according to their website. According to SAFER, the company has 126 power units and 448 drivers.
According to OPB.org said that two men were detained at a gas station. Apparently they were then taken and loaded onto the buses. It is unknown if their were any other prisoners aboard the buses. One of the transport company employees in seen in multiple videos behind the wheel, often on the phone.
This is a breaking story and will be updated as more information becomes available.