Protesters blocking ICE vehicles with their cars in Salem, Oregon, were tear-gassed by federal agents Saturday morning, according to local law enforcement.
Around 9:30 am, Salem police received a dispatch alert that about 30 people had surrounded the vehicles near Lancaster Drive and Sunnyview Road, using cars to block them in, the department said.
First responders treated those injured at the scene after police received emergency calls from people reporting irritated eyes and difficulty breathing.
Salem police detectives are collecting witness accounts and other evidence as they investigate the incident.
It remains unclear what the ICE agents were doing in the area before the crowd gathered, or whether anyone was detained.
Salem police said records of the incident will be independently reviewed by the Oregon Department of Justice and the Department of Homeland Security.
The department said its officers had no advance knowledge of the activity and did not coordinate with ICE.
“Salem Police Officers had no prior knowledge of the activity in this incident and did not coordinate in any way with Immigration and Customs Enforcement,” community engagement officer Mark Jantz said.
“Our officers respond to disturbances such as this solely to de-escalate.”
US Representative Andrea Salinas, a Democrat whose district includes parts of the region, called the ICE operation "reckless" in a statement Saturday afternoon, saying it "endangered innocent people".
Salinas said she was concerned about the agents' use of force and accused them of escalating the encounter.
She said agents used pepper spray, pepper balls and smoke canisters, including against children and older people.
Salinas also accused ICE agents of following and harassing US citizens and driving dangerously - shutting down Highway 99E and nearly causing several crashes.
The congresswoman said she would continue to challenge ICE operations and hold the Trump administration accountable in Congress.
The Salem incident comes amid increased attention to immigration enforcement in Oregon.
Earlier this week, there was a reported rise in arrests in the Portland metro area, prompting concern that another federal operation could be underway.
The Portland Immigrant Rights Coalition, which tracks deportations using ICE databases and calls to its hotline, said nine people were detained on Tuesday alone.
Newsweek has approached the Department of Homeland Security and ICE for comment.
This is a developing story and will be updated.