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PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) – If you live in Portland, you may have heard helicopters flying above you over the weekend.
And with news unfolding that President Donald Trump has enacted Title 10 to deploy members of the Oregon National Guard as federal troops to Portland, you may be wondering: Did those helicopters belong to the military?
The short answer is no. For one, the National Guard is not expected to have boots on the ground until Thursday. A spokesperson also confirmed to KOIN 6 News that the Oregon National Guard did not fly any helicopters over the city last weekend.
Rather, the FBI reported that one helicopter operated by Customs and Border Protections’ component for Air and Marine Operations had been in the area Saturday night. Authorities said four undocumented immigrants were detained after a laser pointer was allegedly pointed directly at the aircraft.
Details of what originally led the helicopter into Portland on Saturday are not yet clear. It is also not clear whether the same patrols were in the skies again on Sunday.
According to the spokespersons with Portland Permitting and the Port of Portland, both received several noise complaints Sunday evening, to the point that the Port released the following alert on its website:
We are aware of the higher volume of helicopter and propeller airplane activity over South and Southwest Portland. This appears to be related to federal law enforcement and/or military activity and is not a development the Port of Portland can control.
KOIN 6 News reached out to the Department of Homeland Security for more details about the helicopter patrols last weekend as well as any future patrols. This story will be updated when we hear back.
Stay with KOIN 6 News as this story develops.
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Aimee Plante
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