U.S. federal immigration officials injured two individuals in a shooting incident in Portland, Ore., as confirmed by authorities on Thursday. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) stated that one of the individuals in the vehicle was a “Venezuelan illegal alien associated with the transnational Tren de Aragua prostitution network” and had been linked to a recent shooting in Portland. Upon agents’ identification of themselves to the occupants of the vehicle that afternoon, the driver attempted to strike them, prompting an agent to fire a defensive shot out of fear for safety. The driver then fled the scene with the passenger.
There was no immediate independent verification of these events or of any gang ties of the vehicle’s occupants. Past shootings involving agents under President Donald Trump’s immigration enforcement push in U.S. cities, including a fatal shooting in Minneapolis the previous day, have raised doubts as video evidence often contradicted the initial administration accounts of the incidents.
President Trump and his supporters have consistently pointed to Tren de Aragua as a source of violence and illegal drug activities in certain U.S. cities. The Portland Police Bureau reported that officers initially responded to a shooting near a hospital around 2:18 p.m. local time. Shortly after, they received a report of a man with gunshot wounds seeking help in a residential area a few kilometers away, where officers found two injured individuals related to the federal agents’ shooting.
The conditions of the wounded individuals were not immediately disclosed. Portland Mayor Keith Wilson and the city council have demanded that ICE cease all operations in Portland until a comprehensive investigation is concluded. They emphasized the importance of upholding constitutional rights and public safety, denouncing federal militarization as counter to the region’s values. Mayor Wilson expressed skepticism about the federal government’s narrative of the shooting, emphasizing a need for transparency and accountability.
Local officials urged residents to remain calm and resolute in the face of these challenging circumstances, emphasizing unity and a commitment to justice. Senator Jeff Merkley, a Democrat from Oregon, urged protesters to maintain peace and not fall into provocations that might incite unrest.
The shooting incident has heightened tensions in Portland, a city with a history of strained relations with President Trump, including past deployment attempts of National Guard troops. The FBI is leading the investigation into the shooting, with Portland police securing the scene and cooperating in the inquiry.