The union that represents employees of Immigration and Customs Enforcement on Monday called on Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler to immediately provide law enforcement services to ICE employees.

Attorney Sean Riddell, legal representative for the National Immigration and Customs Enforcement Council, sent a letter to the mayor's office Monday requesting a meeting with Wheeler to discuss the hands-off approach Portland police took to the OccupyICEPDX protest.

Demonstrators held a 38-day-long occupation at the facility beginning June 17 in protest to President Donald Trump's immigration policies.

Riddell wrote in the letter that Wheeler's decision created "a zone of terror and lawlessness" and resulted in threats of physical violence and harassment toward ICE employees.

The letter, first reported by Willamette Week, was sent by email to Wheeler's chief of staff around 7:30 a.m. Monday, said the union would like to avoid federal litigation, but is "prepared to protect our membership and their families."

"The Council and I assert that your current policy forbidding Portland law enforcement agencies from assisting employees of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement Agency ("ICE") who request law enforcement assistance while at or away from work is a violation of the United States Constitution's Equal Protection Clause," Riddell wrote.

The letter went on to reference the 14th Amendment, which guarantees citizens equal protection of the laws.

"Your policy of not providing police services to employees of ICE creates a class of people based upon their source of income," the letter read.

Read the full letter here.

A spokesperson for Wheeler on Monday afternoon said the mayor's legal counsel was reviewing the letter and had no further comment.

On June 20, Wheeler tweeted that he did not want Portland police involved in a conflict between protesters and ICE, adding that he believes the agency is on the wrong track.

I drove by the demonstration yesterday, it seemed to be very peaceful and I was pleased to see that. I want to be very clear I do not want the @PortlandPolice to be engaged or sucked into a conflict, particularly from a federal agency that I believe is on the wrong track (2/4) — Mayor Ted Wheeler (@tedwheeler) June 20, 2018

If they are looking for a bailout from this mayor, they are looking in the wrong place. -TW (4/4) — Mayor Ted Wheeler (@tedwheeler) June 20, 2018

While Riddell acknowledges Wheeler's vocal opposition to the Trump administration, "We fail to see why targeting the employees of ICE and leaving them vulnerable to violence, harassment and even death furthers a legitimate government interest," he wrote.

Portland police were involved in the final clearing of the encampment on Wednesday after Wheeler called on occupiers to disband two days prior.

Last week, the Oregonian/OregonLive reported that federal officers at the ICE facility were on the receiving end of hateful and racially-charged language from protesters during the weeks-long occupation.

"We learned a long time ago as a people that it's not appropriate to spit on a vet because we don't agree with the war he or she served in," Riddell said Monday afternoon. "This is analogous and equally unacceptable."

--Anna Spoerre