Hundreds Protest Federal Immigration Enforcement at Eugene Building

Hundreds of people converged Saturday at the Federal Building in downtown Eugene, continuing a string of demonstrations that began Wednesday after a fatal encounter involving an Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer. The crowd gathered on Jan. 10, 2026, some joining hands to sing "We Shall Overcome," while a speaker read the names of people who have died in interactions with federal immigration authorities.

Protesters called for ICE officers to leave Eugene, directing their demands at the federal presence downtown. Photographs from the site show protesters at the Federal Building and graffiti on the building's exterior; an editor's note accompanying those images states some signs contain explicit language. Organizers staged a peaceful assembly in the daytime hours, drawing residents from across the county and sustaining a visible civic response to the week's events.

The demonstrations followed the fatal shooting Wednesday of 37-year-old Minnesota woman Renee Nicole Good by an ICE officer. Multiple videos of that incident circulated after the shooting, which has prompted national scrutiny and intensified calls for accountability. In a separate incident in Portland on Thursday, officials say Border Patrol officers shot and injured two people, adding to regional tensions over federal immigration enforcement tactics.

For Lane County residents, the protests underscore immediate concerns about public safety, federal-local relations, and how community members are represented in responses to enforcement actions. Downtown businesses experienced heightened activity and attention while demonstrations were under way, and county leaders and law enforcement face pressure to address both protesters' demands and the need to maintain public order.

Institutionally, the events raise questions about the role of federal agencies operating in Eugene and how local jurisdictions coordinate with those agencies during crises. Civic engagement around the shootings has been sustained and visible, with community members using public space to press for policy changes and accountability. The recurrence of protests since Wednesday suggests continued mobilization and a potential for further demonstrations in the near term.

Saturday's gathering reflected a combination of mourning, protest and political pressure. As the legal and administrative responses to the fatal shooting proceed, local officials and residents will be watching for clarity on investigative outcomes, any changes to federal staffing or operations in Eugene, and steps taken to address community concerns about enforcement practices.