A Portland mother who allegedly pursued ICE agents in an electric Ford Mustang before asking officers to let her go has a history of traffic violations and has previously drawn attention for her activism, Our News Outlet can report.
Kylie Forslund, 36, is accused of using her $60,000 sports car to obstruct federal vehicles during a targeted ICE operation in north Portland last Thursday. She was also seen gesturing toward agents and sounding her horn.
After officers stopped her, however, her defiant tone reportedly gave way to an emotional plea. “Please, give me a warning. I have kids,” she told the agent. “I’m just a mom. I am just a mom.”
Forslund, a Portland-area wedding planner, has five prior traffic violations listed in public records dating to 2012. The citations include several speeding offenses and one violation for using a mobile device while driving.
She also made local news in June after protesting outside Cathedral Coffee, a neighborhood cafe whose owner removed Pride flags that employees had displayed without permission.
Forslund is now accused of running a red light and nearly hitting a school bus while moving through traffic in an effort to disrupt the ICE operation. The available footage ends before the alleged violations occur.
In a text message to Our News Outlet, her husband, Eric, denied the allegations and said the couple simply wanted to be “left alone.”
He said his wife “cares about our community,” a sentiment Forslund also expressed repeatedly during the traffic stop.
Kylie Forslund, 36, was seen gesturing toward ICE agents, sounding her horn and criticizing Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem last Thursday before she allegedly led federal authorities on a chase through north Portland
Forslund was stopped by ICE last Thursday after allegedly attempting to box in federal vehicles with her $60,000 car during targeted immigration arrests
Asked about his wife’s driving record, Eric defended her and downplayed the significance of the citations.
“So she has a history of driving a little fast. She never had any incidents or accidents, and all her tickets are from traffic cameras doing 10 over—it’s really not a big deal,” he said.
Forslund and her family live in a $600,000 home in Portland’s Cathedral Park neighborhood along the Willamette River.
Her wedding and event-planning business charges as much as $10,000 for services that include “weddings, corporate events, and nonprofit galas.”
Eric told the Mail that his wife’s activism has also led to what he described as “death threats.”
In June, the couple protested outside their local coffee shop, accusing its owner of acting as an “oppressor” of the LGBTQ community.
They were photographed putting up posters urging customers to boycott Cathedral Coffee after owner Austen Tanner removed Pride flags employees had displayed.
Tanner told KATU that the restaurant maintained a policy of neutrality, while allowing employees to express themselves through their clothing.
Kylie Forslund (left) and her husband Eric (right) were seen putting up posters urging customers to boycott Cathedral Coffee outside the restaurant in June
Forslund (pictured) accused Cathedral Coffee and owner Austen Tanner of acting as an “oppressor” of the LGBTQ community
Forslund rejected that explanation, saying Tanner’s response sounded “like an oppressor.”
“There’s no place for that in our community as far as I’m concerned,” she said of the decision to remove the flags.
She also criticized Tanner directly, saying: “I have a little bit of background on who he is and what he believes, and I just don’t think it lines up with the people who frequent this coffee shop and the people who work at this coffee shop.”
Last Thursday afternoon, federal agents carried out a traffic stop on a busy two-way, multi-lane road after Forslund allegedly disregarded several warnings from ICE.
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The Department of Homeland Security said she was “aggressively tailgating and swerving near ICE vehicles.” The agency also alleged that she ran a red light and nearly collided with a school bus.
Video appeared to show her traveling at speed and moving between lanes in rainy conditions as officers followed her along the road.
When agents caught up with her, she allegedly attempted to leave, but federal vehicles blocked her Mustang.
“Please don’t arrest me, please,” she told the agent who approached her.
The agent told Forslund she was not being arrested, but said the matter would be referred to Homeland Security Investigations, or HSI.
As the visibly distressed woman was asked to provide her driver’s license, she pleaded for a warning.
Forslund allegedly ran a red light, nearly hit a school bus and moved through traffic while attempting to box in ICE vehicles with her Mustang. Her husband denied the allegations
Video showed Forslund crying, breathing heavily and pleading for leniency after ICE agents stopped her. “Please, give me a warning. I have kids. I’m just a mom. I am just a mom,” she said
“You have placed us in danger,” the agent told her, instructing her to put the Mustang in park and switch off the engine.
“You are almost causing an accident. You are surrounded by federal agents.”
Forslund said she understood but continued to explain her actions, repeating: “I am just worried about my community.”
“Please don’t,” she added. “I’m just a mom. Please, please, please. I’m just a mom.”
She repeated the phrase several times while the officer instructed her to leave the area and return home.
The officer told her to “take a deep breath” and said he would stop traffic so she could leave. Forslund said she was panicked and “shaking.”
She was then seen making a U-turn and driving away, apparently heading toward her nearly $580,000 home.
Julio Hernandez, ICE’s deputy field officer director, told the Post Millennial that Forslund was one of several alleged “spotters” positioned around the neighborhood that day.
According to Hernandez, spotters use cars, whistles and horns to warn unauthorized immigrants that ICE operations are taking place nearby.
He alleged that Forslund blocked ICE vehicles multiple times and ignored repeated warnings before agents intervened.
“This time, enough was enough,” Hernandez said. “Like [Secretary Noem] said, enough is enough, we’re drawing the line, and that’s what we did now.”
The officer told Forslund to go home and said her case would be referred to Homeland Security Investigations. He stopped traffic so she could make a U-turn and leave, apparently heading toward her nearly $580,000 residence (pictured)
The Department of Homeland Security confirmed to The Daily Mail that ICE had forwarded information about the incident to HSI and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for possible prosecution.
Assistant Homeland Security Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said the incident was the latest example of the dangers ICE officers face while enforcing immigration laws and making arrests.
“Our law enforcement officers are facing a 1,000 percent increase in assaults against them, including cars being used as weapons for ramming and attacks. Death threats against our agents are also up 8,000 percent. This violence must end,” she said.
