In November of 2025, the ACLU of Oregon filed a Class Action Complaint against Donald Trump, Kristi Noem, and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) on behalf of our clients, whose First Amendment rights were violated outside the Portland ICE Building on the corner of South Bancroft Street and South Macadam Avenue.
Hugo Rios, one of our clients in this case and a life-long photographer, was encouraged by their partner to attend one of the daily demonstrations outside of the ICE building. After watching the injustices unfold at the hands of federal law enforcement via livestream — and as a proud Puerto Rican, afroindigenous and queer disabled veteran parent to two and grandparent to four children — Hugo couldn’t ignore the call to show up for their many communities at the September 1, 2025 protest. In their words, they needed to “catch footage of what these guys are doing and get it out there.”
Despite what Hugo said was a beautiful and peaceful start to the evening, with people singing, dancing, and traveling down Moody Avenue towards the ICE building, they noted the energy shifted once federal agents appeared. Though they stood to the side, clearly marked as “PRESS”, ICE agents shot Hugo an estimated 20 times, striking them from their feet to his shoulders and hitting his camera multiple times.
The ACLU of Oregon Communications and Storytelling team were able to meet with Hugo, along with their partner, to learn more about their rich background in photography, the duty they feel to document history as a journalistic freelance photographer, and how this event has changed their life.
