PORTLAND, Ore. — Tensions escalated in Portland, Oregon, on Thursday after federal immigration officers were involved in a shooting that left two individuals wounded. The incident took place outside a hospital and follows a troubling pattern of violent encounters involving immigration enforcement, including a recent shooting that killed a woman in Minnesota.
The FBI’s Portland office confirmed that it is investigating an agent-involved shooting that occurred around 2:15 p.m. Portland police reported that emergency responders arrived on the scene shortly after a call regarding a shooting. Minutes later, authorities located a man requesting help several miles away, identifying him and another individual as victims of the federal agents' fire.
City officials are expressing concerns over the militarized approach of federal law enforcement in Portland, urging the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to cease operations until the investigation is concluded. Council President Elana Pirtle-Guiney mentioned that both wounded individuals are still alive and hoped for positive updates on their conditions.
Chief Bob Day urged the community to remain calm and emphasized that they are still gathering information about the incident. Mayor Keith Wilson and the city council collectively condemned the shooting, stating, Portland is not a 'training ground' for militarized agents, and the 'full force' threatened by the administration has deadly consequences. They committed to using all available legal avenues to ensure residents' civil and human rights are upheld amid these federal actions.
Senator Jeff Merkley also weighed in, advising protesters to maintain peace and avoid escalation. The call for unity and peaceful responses has resonated throughout Portland as the community grapples with this unsettling incident.
