A photographer was questioned by the FBI at his own home about photos he took of anti-deportation protesters, including whether he could identify any of the individuals involved.
Photographer Robert Scherle was at his home in Eugene, Oregon, on February 4 when federal agents knocked on his door. Scherle had recently covered demonstrations at the city’s Federal Building, where Department of Homeland Security immigration enforcement operations are based. The building had become a focal point for escalating anti-deportation protests, and on January 30, it was vandalized, with windows damaged.
According to a report by Eugene Weekly, Scherle says he initially thought the knock at his door was related to donations he was collecting for Oregon Community Asylum Network, a group that works with asylum seekers and other immigrants. Instead, he says, two FBI agents — a man and a woman in civilian clothing — identified themselves as being affiliated with the Eugene office of the FBI’s Portland field office…