A Portland transgender activist pleaded guilty this week to felony charges after attempting to intimidate federal immigration officers with a knife and later resisting arrest.
Despite the serious nature of the crimes, the defendant has now turned to crowdfunding to solicit donations for bail.
Julie Winters, 47, of Portland, admitted in federal court to one count of Felony Intimidation of a Federal Officer and one count of Resisting Arrest.
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According to court documents, on June 24, 2025, Winters confronted officers at the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) office in South Portland armed with a large knife.
Prosecutors stated Winters swung the weapon back and forth in an effort to scare off officers who were attempting to engage with her. The incident was treated as a direct threat to federal law enforcement personnel.
Following the June confrontation, Winters was released on pretrial conditions. However, she violated those terms just weeks later.
On August 20, 2025, she appeared at the Pretrial Services Office in Portland, where U.S. Marshals attempted to arrest her on a federal warrant.
Court records show she resisted by making “forcible contact” with deputy marshals during the arrest attempt.
The defendant was subdued and taken into custody without serious injuries reported.
Winters, who has lived in Portland for sixteen years, will be sentenced in December before a U.S. District Court judge.
She faces up to five years in prison for intimidation of federal officers and additional penalties for resisting arrest.
The investigation involved multiple federal agencies, including the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Federal Protective Service, ICE, and the U.S. Marshals Service.
The case has drawn criticism as Winters has set up a donation campaign asking the public to contribute money toward her bail and legal expenses.
Federal court documents make clear that Winters attempted to intimidate officers performing lawful duties, yet activists in Portland have already circulated the fundraiser on social media.
Attacks against ICE personnel have surged in recent years. Data from the Department of Homeland Security shows that assaults on officers increased more than 1,000% in just the last few months, with many incidents tied to anti-ICE protests and campaigns portraying immigration enforcement as illegitimate.
The Winters case underscores a growing national challenge: federal officers charged with enforcing immigration laws are increasingly subjected to violent confrontations.
While the court will ultimately determine Winters’ sentence, the attempt to raise bail through donations highlights how political activism in Portland continues to blur the line between protest and criminal violence.
