Federal immigration agents shot and wounded two people in a vehicle outside a hospital in Portland, Oregon, on Thursday, one day after an agent fatally shot a driver in Minnesota, authorities announced.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) described the vehicle’s passenger as “an illegal alien Venezuelan affiliated with the transnational Tren de Aragua prostitution ring,” involved in a recent shooting in Portland.
When agents identified themselves to the vehicle’s occupants on Thursday afternoon, the driver allegedly attempted to run them over, according to a written department statement.
“Fearing for his life and safety, an agent fired a defensive shot,” the statement said. “The driver fled with the passenger, leaving the scene.”
No Immediate Independent Corroboration
There was no immediate independent corroboration of these events or of any alleged gang affiliation of the vehicle’s occupants.
In previous shootings involving agents during increased immigration enforcement in U.S. cities under President Donald Trump, including Wednesday’s incident in Minneapolis, video evidence has sometimes contradicted the administration’s initial accounts of the circumstances.
According to the Portland Police Bureau, officers initially responded to a report of a shooting near a hospital at approximately 2:18 p.m.
A few minutes later, police were informed that a man who had been shot was seeking help in a residential area several miles away. Officers responded and found two people with apparent gunshot wounds, determining they had been injured in the incident involving federal agents.
Condition Unknown
Their medical condition was not immediately known. City Council President Elana Pirtle-Guiney stated during a Portland City Council meeting that Thursday’s shooting occurred in the eastern part of the city and that two Portland residents had been wounded.
“As far as we know, both of these individuals are still alive, and we are hoping to receive more positive updates throughout the afternoon,” she said.
The shooting has heightened tensions in a city with a longstanding contentious relationship with President Donald Trump, especially after his recent unsuccessful attempt to deploy National Guard troops.
Portland police secured both the shooting scene and the area where the wounded individuals were found, pending investigation.
“We are still in the early stages of this incident,” Chief Bob Day said. “We understand the heightened emotion and tension many are feeling in the wake of the Minneapolis shooting, but I am asking the community to remain calm as we work to learn more.”
Request to Suspend ICE Operations
Portland Mayor Keith Wilson and the City Council called on Immigration and Customs Enforcement to suspend all operations in Oregon’s largest city until a full investigation is completed.
“We stand united as elected officials in saying that we cannot sit by while constitutional protections erode and bloodshed mounts,” a joint statement said. “Portland is not a ‘training ground’ for militarized agents, and the ‘full force’ threatened by the administration has deadly consequences.”
City officials stated that “federal militarization undermines effective, community-based public safety, and it runs counter to the values that define our region. We will use every legal and legislative tool available to protect our residents’ civil and human rights.”
They urged residents to remain “calm and purposeful during this difficult time.”
“We respond with clarity, unity, and a commitment to justice,” the statement said. “We must stand together to protect Portland.”
U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley, an Oregon Democrat, urged potential protesters to remain peaceful.
“Trump wants to generate riots,” he wrote on the X social media platform. “Don’t take the bait.”
Source: Associated Press
