There was a time when Americans respected the men and women who enforce our laws. That time feels increasingly distant. Today in Portland, Oregon, we’re witnessing citizens physically assault federal officers, block government vehicles, and exhaust every tactic imaginable to prevent ICE from doing its job. The question every patriotic American should be asking is straightforward: When exactly did protecting lawbreakers become a cause worth fighting our own countrymen?

The situation at Portland’s ICE facility on Macadam Avenue has devolved into something ugly. For months, agitators have swarmed the facility. They form human blockades. They interfere with operations. Some have turned violent against the very agents tasked with keeping our communities safe. And make no mistake—these aren’t peaceful demonstrations by concerned citizens. They’re coordinated efforts to obstruct the lawful enforcement of our nation’s immigration laws. Period.

From The Post Millennial:

“Surveillance footage shows that, as officers attempted to arrest Malinowska for failing to comply with the directives to clear the driveway, [Pearl] left the public sidewalk, walked on the property’s driveway, and grabbed onto Malinowska’s body from behind with both hands in an attempt to prevent her from being taken into custody. As officers tried to separate the two, [Pearl] continued to latch onto Malinowska, and footage shows him appearing to jump onto Malinowska’s back, grab the officers’ arms and legs, and repeatedly attempt to writhe free.”

Jumping on someone’s back. Grabbing at officers’ limbs. Writhing to break free. This isn’t protest. This is assault.

This week, one of these agitators finally faced consequences. David Pearl, a 35-year-old Portland resident, became the first anti-ICE militant to have his case brought to trial. The result? Guilty on all counts.

A Pattern of Defiance

Pearl’s criminal conduct wasn’t some momentary lapse in judgment. Court records paint a picture of deliberate, repeated lawlessness. On June 21, 2025, Pearl joined a mob of agitators who formed a human blockade in the ICE facility’s driveway. Their goal was simple: prevent federal vehicles from leaving. Federal Protective Service officers issued six separate lawful commands over 47 minutes. Forty-seven minutes of warnings. Pearl ignored every single one.

While most agitators eventually scattered, Pearl refused to budge. Officers had no choice but to take him into custody. Now, you might think getting arrested would prompt some reflection. Maybe a realization that choices have consequences. Not Pearl. Eight days later—just eight days—he was back at the same facility. This time, he physically threw himself into the lawful arrest of another agitator, a transgender Antifa militant named Nadya Sofia Malinowska.

The surveillance footage tells the whole story. US District Court Judge Jolie A. Russo reviewed it during the four-hour bench trial. Pearl jumping on Malinowska’s back. Pearl grabbing at officers’ arms and legs. Pearl writhing desperately to interfere. This wasn’t civil disobedience. This was a man assaulting federal officers performing their sworn duty.

Justice Served, Though Mercy Shown

Judge Russo found Pearl guilty of creating a disturbance at the ICE facility and failing to obey a lawful order. The conviction represents a win for the rule of law. The sentence? That’s another matter. Pearl walked away with one year of probation and a whopping 10 hours of community service. Ten hours. For physically attacking federal agents. Twice.

Prosecutors pushed for actual jail time. Assistant US Attorney Leah Bolstad pointed out the obvious: Pearl returned to commit more crimes after his first arrest. He kicked federal agents during the confrontation. She argued incarceration would deter others. The judge disagreed.

The most revealing moment came when Pearl addressed the court. Did he apologize? Express any remorse? Of course not. He declared himself a “victim” and launched into a tirade against the federal government. His exact words: “We are being victimized for essentially not leaving fast enough… It’s disgusting.”

Victimized. The man who jumped on someone’s back and grabbed at officers’ limbs considers himself the victim here. You cannot make this stuff up.

Key Takeaways

• David Pearl became the first Portland anti-ICE agitator convicted at trial for federal offenses.
• Pearl physically attacked officers and returned to offend again just eight days after his first arrest.
• Despite his conviction, Pearl showed zero remorse and called himself the “victim.”
• More than 35 additional protesters face charges, signaling accountability is coming.

Sources: The Post Millennial