Protester accidentally sets himself on fire outside ICE facility

Protester accidentally sets himself on fire outside ICE facility
Source: Daily Mail Online

A protester accidentally set himself ablaze while burning an American flag outside of an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility in Oregon.

The unidentified demonstrator was seen engulfed in large orange flames in a Portland street as spectators screamed on Saturday night.

The long-haired man, dressed in dark pants and a hoodie, jumped around in the street, trying to fan the flames off of him in the liberal-run city.

He eventually put the flames out as he appeared to brush off the frightening incident after raising his hands in the air and smiling.

After stomping the last bit off himself, a person was heard saying: 'What an idiot, what a f*ing idiot!'

Another person then approached him, appearing to check on the man, before someone else quickly ran up to him to brush off a leftover ember on his pants.

It is unclear if he was injured or needed medical attention afterwards.

The incident comes as protestors across the nation have ramped up efforts to get federal agents out of their cities amid President Donald Trump's immigration crack down.

A protestor accidently set himself on fire while burning an American flag during an anti-ICE demonstration in Portland, Oregon on Saturday night

The unidentified man fanned the flames off himself as bystanders screamed and watched on in horror

As the fire burned, someone was heard shouting: 'Put him out! Put him out!' before the man appeared to pull burnt clothing scraps off his body and onto the pavement.

He then left the scene, as another man stepped on the flames burning on the ground. Someone else then came by to spray some kind of extinguishing agent on the fire.

The Portland Police Department told the Daily Mail they have seen the video circulating online, but because 'numerous calls for service' come through from the area 'each and every night,' the agency cannot look at every incident that takes place there.

The Daily Mail contacted the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) for comment.

Portland is the latest American city to be targeted by Trump's administration, which has promised to crack down on Democratic-run, or sanctuary cities.

Just last month, Keith Wilson, the city's mayor, told ICE agents to 'resign' and ordered the agency to leave the city after a young girl was tear-gassed along with other 'peaceful protesters.'

Demonstrators at an 'ICE out' protest outside an immigration facility were struck with the chemical agent, along with pepper balls and rubber bullets.

An Instagram video showed a little girl crying as she attempted to recover after federal agents deployed tear gas.

'It burns,' the young girl appeared to say.

He eventually got most of the fire off of him as he appeared to brush off the frightening incident after raising his hands in the air and smiling

After he left the area, another man came in and doused the burning flames with some kind of extinguishing agent

The girl, who appeared to be a preteen, was seen wearing a pink shirt with butterflies as a protester doused her eyes with water.

'Good job, spit it out,' someone said as the girl appeared distraught.

Wilson echoed the words of Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, who has spoken out against ICE in his city, especially following the deaths of two American citizens, Renee Good and Alex Pretti.

'To those who continue to work for ICE: Resign. To those who control this facility: Leave,' Wilson said in a statement.

When immigration officials were in the Minnesota city and following Good's death, Frey told them live on-air to 'Get the f* out of Minneapolis.'

Several protestors have burned the American flag during demonstrations as a way to express their anger, but back in August, Trump signed an executive order that would see people punished for doing so.

In 1989, the Supreme Court ruled that burning the American flag during a protest is a protected form of free speech.

The practice became popularized years before during the heated Vietnam War riots.

Trump's bold new order directs the Department of Justice to prosecute individuals who 'desecrate' the flag along with detaining and deporting immigrants who are accused of flag burning.

Just last month, Keith Wilson (pictured), the city's mayor, told ICE agents to 'resign' and ordered the agency to leave the city after a young girl was tear-gassed along with other 'peaceful protesters'

Trump signed an executive order in August that would see people be punished for burning the American flag

'If you burn a flag, you get one year in jail, no early exits, no nothing,' Trump previously declared in the Oval Office.
'My administration will act to restore respect and sanctity to the American flag and prosecute those who incite violence or otherwise violate our laws while desecrating this symbol of our country, to the fullest extent permissible under any available authority,' Trump's order reads.

Attorney General Pam Bondi is directed to review all cases where the flag has been burned and find what other charges could be brought forward.