The Border Patrol Was Responsible for an Arrest in Portland

The Nation (a lefty site) ^ | July 17, 2020 | Ken Klippenstein

[McGruff]

For days, federal agents in unmarked cars have reportedly been snatching Portland protesters off the streets. On Thursday, video emerged of federal agents clad in camouflage fatigues and unspecified “police” patches apprehending one such demonstrator and placing him in an unmarked vehicle. Social media lit up with speculation about the intentions—and the identity—of these agents. A memo consisting of internal talking points for the federal agency responsible for the arrest, Customs and Border Protection (CBP), and obtained exclusively by The Nation provides some answers—and raises even more questions.

Dated July 1, the memo is titled “Public Affairs Guidance: CBP Support to Protect Federal Facilities and Property” and marked “For Official Use Only.” It describes a special task force created by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in response to President Trump’s Executive Order on Protecting American Monuments, Memorials, and Statues and Combating Recent Criminal Violence. That task force, the Protecting American Communities Task Force (PACT), has been tasked not only to assess civil unrest but also to “surge” resources to protect against it.

The Portland arrest of Mark Pettibone, first reported by Oregon Public Broadcasting, followed several similar arrests involving officers from a Border Patrol Tactical Unit (BORTAC)—CBP’s equivalent of a SWAT team—as well as the US Marshals Special Operations Group. A CBP spokesman confirmed to The Nation that CBP agents were responsible for the arrest, pointing to authorities under the Protecting American Communities Task Force.

[McGruff]

So it was the Border Patrol not some secret police.

[McGruff]

Somebody should tell Nancy (if she didn’t already know)

Nancy Pelosi @SpeakerPelosi

First Amendment speech should never be met with one-sided violence from federal agents acting as Trump’s secret police, especially when unidentified. This is disgraceful behavior we would expect from a banana republic — not the government of the United States.

10:00 PM · Jul 17, 2020

[cdcdawg]

“For days, federal agents in unmarked cars have reportedly been snatching Portland protesters off the streets.”

If only.

[Ford4000]

Any word what he was arrested for?

[matt04]

It’s strange how every lefty used the same “Snatched protesters off the street” verbiage to describe want happened. I’m sure it’s just a weird Coincidence.

[sport]

Being a shit bird?

[cdcdawg]

My cousin’s wife (they are just outside of Portland) just repeated it about 90 seconds ago. They are considered moderate out there.

[chief lee runamok]

"..federal agents clad in camouflage fatigues and unspecified “police” patches apprehending one such demonstrator and placing him in an unmarked vehicle."

This single incident has been repeatedly cited as federal overreach.

Apparently no other such episode has occurred since as no doubt such a videoed event would be immediately viral online.

[Does so]

Today, that could be a kidnapping...

[BeauBo]

The Federal Agents are all in uniform, and festooned with identifying patches. The only ones that those numbskulls can figure out, are the big letters spelling out "POLICE" on their chests and backs.

Yet they persist in in calling them "unmarked" or "unidentified" or "secret". No doubt a combination of stupidity and deliberate attempts to mislead/mis-characterize and agitate.

SRT, is the U.S. Customs and Border Protection Special Response Team - like a SWAT team (Federal Marshalls are also participating):

Identifying patches on both shoulders, "POLICE" on their front and back, and a public affairs spokesperson ready to answer any questions from the presstitutes. But they prefer to peddle dark fantasies.

[ataDude]

So? They are federal law enforcement officers and can enforce all federal laws.

[BeauBo]

“A memo consisting of internal talking points for the federal agency responsible for the arrest, Customs and Border Protection (CBP), and obtained exclusively by The Nation”

Oh! High drama and intrigue!

“Dated July 1, the memo is titled “Public Affairs Guidance”

A fricking Press Release!

These Left Wingnuts are so out of touch with real life, or having to make real things work, in the real world, that they are just clueless buffoons.

Border Patrol Tactical Unit (BORTAC) personnel took part in the response to the LA Riots in 1992. It is not like they are some kind of secret new Trump SS.

All they had to do was ask at DOJ’s Public Affairs Office, to get the press release (which apparently somebody did for them).

This is typical Federal response for rioting - less than typical, actually pretty minimal.

[BeauBo]

“in unmarked cars”

Probably rental cars. Somebody get some magnetic logos to stick on the doors, or decals for inside the windows.

Maybe a little portable lights and siren kit too.

[miserare]

I wish those guys would grab Nancy, throw her in the truck, take her for a long ride on a bumpy road, and make her facelift fall down!

[FreedomPoster]

This is like the story of a friend of a friend who left the Covid test line and got back a positive report.

[Ruy Dias de Bivar]

A Federal Police Force is what the conspiracy theorists were worried about back in 1969.

[Hulka]

BORTAC from the Border Patrol—they are the specially trained Agents that are experts in crowd control, apprehensions and other skills.
You don’t want to screw with basic Border Patrol Agents, let alone BORTAC.
When my son was a line Agent in AZ, he, alone, routinely took down groups numbering anywhere from a couple dozen to 106 on one night.
Those guys have the most physically demanding training in their academy.
No nonsense kind of guys.

[SanchoP]

Ask your son since when does the BP enforce civil law?

[5th MEB]

Tell you wife’s cousin that the person doing the “snatching” was probably my nephew, he’s a senior investigator for the CBP and on one of their BORTAC units.

He spends his days and nights happily ARRESTING SCUMBAGS AND OTHER HUMAN DEBRIS!

HAPPY HUNTING NEPHEW!!!!!!!!!!

[5th MEB]

It’s CUSTOMS and Border Patrol now slick.

The CUSTOMS part gives them a lot of authority in civil law when it comes to federal facilities and property.