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Nick Miroff and Matt Zapotosky, The Washington Post

Published 6:47 pm CDT, Tuesday, July 21, 2020

In Portland, the District of Columbia and other U.S. cities shaken by protests in recent months, the Trump administration has leaned on the considerable authority and assets of the Department of Homeland Security – an agency formed to prevent another Sept. 11, 2001, attack – to spearhead the federal response.

Images of militarized Border Patrol agents clubbing protesters and stuffing them into unmarked vehicles have alarmed civil liberties advocates and administration critics, and the displays of government power echo tactics long associated with authoritarian rule.

Legal analysts say that while the department has broad authority to enforce federal laws, officers’ actions – especially in Portland, Ore. – seemed to be pushing the boundaries and pulling DHS into a domestic policing role.

“There’s a line that it certainly looks like they’ve crossed. And, if I may, it’s an important line because it’s the difference between federal law enforcement and a roving commission where you’re using these law enforcement officers to go out and restore what they deem to be order,” said Stephen Vladeck, a law professor at the University of Texas at Austin.

DHS officials defended their tactics in Portland again Tuesday, saying the department has an obligation to protect government buildings in the city that have been targeted for more than 50 consecutive nights by black-clad protesters shooting fireworks, lobbing projectiles and attempting to set alight the federal courthouse.

Chad Wolf, the acting DHS secretary, said federal agents are not deployed widely across the city and described the situation there as “unique,” blaming local officials who have eschewed cooperation with the Trump administration.

DHS agents have been deployed “to protect a symbol of justice – the courthouse,” Wolf said. “We mostly do that in a very defensive posture. However, we have been forced because of a lack of…

Continue reading: https://www.chron.com/news/article/Facing-unrest-on-American-streets-Trump-turns-15424467.php.

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