Alternative Media Journalist Arrested in Portland, DHS Response Anticipated

Conservative journalist Nick Sortor, known for his coverage of left-wing protests, claimed Friday that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is planning an “unprecedented” response in Portland, Oregon, following his arrest by city police. Sortor, who has over 1.2 million followers on X, was detained Thursday while covering antifa-linked riots near the city’s Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility. The protests, ongoing since June 2, have involved violent clashes, injuries, and property damage.

In a post Friday morning, Sortor stated he was “in direct contact with top DHS officials” and warned of a significant federal reaction. “What’s coming in Portland is unprecedented,” he wrote. He attributed the upcoming action to the Portland Police’s arrest of journalists, calling it an exposure of government overreach.

Sortor later told Fox News that before his arrest, he had been physically attacked by antifa rioters and sought safety near police officers. “I never suspected I would be the target of the arrest,” he said. His detainment has since sparked controversy over press freedoms and the treatment of independent media.

Civil rights attorney Harmeet Dhillon sent a letter to Portland officials demanding video and documentation of Sortor’s arrest. Dhillon also criticized law enforcement for failing to arrest a suspect who allegedly assaulted journalist Katie Daviscourt earlier in the week with a flagpole. Daviscourt suffered a black eye and said officers refused to intervene.

Meanwhile, President Trump has signed an executive order designating antifa as a terrorist organization and authorized military support to protect ICE facilities. “I am also authorizing Full Force, if necessary,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. As of Friday, the suspect in Daviscourt’s assault remains at large.