Federal Agents Involved in Portland Shooting Outside Hospital
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — On Thursday afternoon, federal immigration agents shot and wounded two individuals in a vehicle near a Portland hospital, just a day after a fatal shooting by an officer in Minnesota, according to authorities.
The incident led to a large protest at the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) building in Portland. Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield announced plans for an investigation to determine if any federal officers exceeded their legal authority, with potential criminal charges pending.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) released a statement identifying the vehicle’s passenger as “a Venezuelan illegal alien affiliated with the transnational Tren de Aragua prostitution ring,” who was allegedly linked to a recent shooting in Portland. DHS stated that during a “targeted vehicle stop,” the driver attempted to run over the agents, prompting one to fire “a defensive shot.” The vehicle then fled the scene.
There has been no independent confirmation regarding the gang affiliation of the vehicle’s occupants. Previous shootings involving federal agents during President Donald Trump’s immigration enforcement actions, including one in Minneapolis, have raised questions due to conflicting video evidence.
Trump and his allies have frequently pointed to the Tren de Aragua gang as contributing to violence and drug-related issues in some U.S. cities.
The Portland shooting heightened tensions in a city with a history of conflict with Trump’s administration, notably due to his unsuccessful attempt to deploy National Guard troops there. The city has been a site of ongoing protests outside the ICE building.
Portland Police reported that officers responded to the shooting outside Adventist Health hospital at approximately 2:18 p.m. Shortly after, a report of a man requesting assistance in a nearby residential area led officers to discover a man and a woman with gunshot wounds, determined to have resulted from the federal agents’ shooting.
The victims’ conditions remain unknown, though Portland police applied a tourniquet to one. City Council President Elana Pirtle-Guiney expressed hope for positive news on the individuals’ conditions.
Police Chief Bob Day noted that the FBI is leading the investigation, and Mayor Keith Wilson, along with the City Council, has demanded ICE halt operations in Portland until the investigation concludes.
City officials collectively expressed concern over the use of federal force, stating, “Portland is not a ‘training ground’ for militarized agents, and the ‘full force’ threatened by the administration has deadly consequences.” Mayor Wilson expressed skepticism about the federal account of the incident, indicating a lack of trust in their statements.
Democratic State Senator Kayse Jama, who lives near the incident, called for federal agents to leave Oregon, emphasizing the state’s welcoming nature but rejecting federal militarization.
Residents were urged to maintain calm, and several dozen gathered near the scene in the evening seeking answers. U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley cautioned against violent protests, suggesting that President Trump aims to provoke unrest.
