Portland Anti-ICE Protestors Get Into ‘Tussles’ When They ‘Get Bored,’ The Atlantic Writer Tells MSNBC

Footage of anti-ICE protestors clashing with federal agents and conservative influencers have mislead the public, The Atlantic’s Isaac Stanley-Becker said, because most protestors are getting into “tussles” when they simply “get bored or are looking for something to do.”

Stanley-Becker shared his thoughts on the illegal immigration crackdown in Portland and the reaction to it during an appearance on Ana Cabrera Reports on MSNBC Monday morning.

The writer said there have been “tense standoffs with the federal agents and sporadic acts of violence,” but that overall, he believes President Donald Trump saying the city is “war ravaged” is dead wrong.

“It really bears repeating that this is not a war zone. And in fact, that is just a laughable notion, if you spend any time there,” Stanley-Becker said.

His appearance comes after clips of anti-ICE protestors fighting with federal agents and pro-ICE counter protestors circulated on X over the past week. Pro-MAGA influencer Nick Sortor was also seen getting shoved and harassed in Portland last week.

That is the exception to the norm, Stanley-Becker told anchor Ana Cabrera. Instead, he said, there are usually a dozen or two dozen protestors “shouting” at federal agents at Portland’s only ICE facility, “and then at night, especially on weekend nights, it gets more lively, it gets more rowdy.”

He continued:

And yes, there are moments of intense standoffs with the federal agents and sporadic acts of violence, whether that is tussles with federal agents, or more likely than not, actually, when those federal agents have retreated back into the building and some of the members get bored or are looking for something to do, some tussles with other members of the crowd, with conservative social media influencers who have descended on Portland, looking for footage.

Cabrera added she liked his recent The Atlantic piece on Portland, and in particular, the sub-headline: “There’s more absurdity than menace on the city’s streets — at least for now.”

You can watch above via MSNBC.

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