A 38-year-old man has been charged with felony assault after allegedly spitting on a federal law enforcement officer outside an ICE facility in South Portland, according to a press release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Oregon.
The defendant, Alexander Jay Boyce, made his first appearance in federal court following the incident, which occurred on the evening of October 5, 2025.
Court documents say Boyce was among a group blocking the driveway of the ICE building when officers repeatedly instructed the group to clear the area. Rather than comply, Boyce allegedly spit directly on an officer’s helmet.
U.S. Attorney Scott E. Bradford emphasized that assaulting federal officers will not be tolerated, stating, “Nobody spits on the brave men and women of federal law enforcement and gets away with it. If you spit on a federal law enforcement officer, you will be hit with federal charges.”
Boyce was released on conditions pending further court proceedings. The felony charge carries a potential sentence of up to eight years in a federal prison.
This arrest is part of a larger campaign by the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Oregon, which has charged dozens of individuals with federal offenses related to protests and confrontations at the ICE facility, including assaulting officers, failure to comply, and property damage.
