Four Illegal Immigrants Arrested After Laser Aimed At CBP Helicopter Patrolling Portland
Four illegal immigrants were taken into custody after one allegedly aimed a laser at a Customs and Border Protection helicopter flying above Portland, Oregon, federal officials confirmed.
According to the FBI, the suspect directed the laser at the CBP aircraft as well as other law enforcement helicopters patrolling the city on Saturday. “Come after law enforcement officers and this FBI will put you away,” FBI Director Kash Patel warned in a post on X.
The incident unfolded as President Donald Trump ordered troops into Portland to protect the city and federal facilities from attacks by Antifa and other violent groups. “At the request of Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem, I am directing Secretary of War Pete Hegseth to provide all necessary Troops to protect war ravaged Portland, and any of our ICE Facilities under siege,” Trump posted on Truth Social. “I am also authorizing Full Force, if necessary.”
Oregon’s Democratic leadership quickly pushed back. Governor Tina Kotek claimed the deployment was unnecessary, saying she told the president there was “no insurrection or threat to public safety” that would justify military intervention. “Despite this — and all evidence to the contrary — he has chosen to disregard Oregonians’ safety and ability to govern ourselves,” Kotek said. “This is not necessary. And it is unlawful. And it will make Oregonians less safe.”
The FBI tracked the laser suspect to a nearby home, where three other illegal immigrants were also found. ICE officers arrested the group. In a statement, the FBI stressed, “The federal government will not tolerate violence against federal officers, nor will we tolerate assaults on personal, commercial, or government aircraft.”
The Federal Aviation Administration has warned that lasers aimed at aircraft can temporarily blind or incapacitate pilots, calling it a “serious threat.” Penalties can reach as high as $32,646 for each violation. Pilots reported 12,840 laser strikes to the FAA in 2024 alone.