> At a Glance
> – Border Patrol agent shot a 33-year-old man and 32-year-old woman in Portland on Thursday
> – Federal officials claim the driver tried to run over agents during a targeted stop
> – The incident occurred one day after ICE fatally shot a woman in Minneapolis
> – Why it matters: The shooting intensifies scrutiny of federal immigration enforcement tactics in urban areas
A Border Patrol agent wounded two people in Portland, Oregon, during a vehicle stop that federal officials describe as self-defense, marking the second consecutive day of immigration-related gunfire involving federal agents.
The Portland Shooting
The confrontation began at 2:19 p.m. when Border Patrol agents stopped a red Toyota on Southeast Main Street. According to Department of Homeland Security spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin, agents were targeting a Venezuelan passenger described as an “illegal alien affiliated with the transnational Tren de Aragua prostitution ring.”
The situation escalated when the driver allegedly attempted to run over agents after they identified themselves. An agent fired defensive shots as the vehicle fled, eventually stopping three miles away where the wounded pair called for help.
Victims and Aftermath
Police found the injured pair near Northeast 146th Avenue and East Burnside Street. Officers applied a tourniquet before transporting them to the hospital. The FBI is now leading the investigation into what they term “an assault on federal officers.”
Portland Mayor Keith Wilson condemned the incident:
> “Portland should not be treated as a military training ground. I call on every Portlander to represent our values and to show up with calm and purpose during this difficult time.”
Political Response
The shooting sparked immediate political backlash. Mayor Wilson demanded ICE suspend operations in Portland pending investigation, while the Multnomah County Board of Commissioners stated:
> “What we can say now is enough is enough. The terror and violence ICE is causing in our neighborhoods must end now.”
Portland Police Chief Bob Day urged calm:
> “We understand the heightened emotion and tension many are feeling in the wake of the shooting in Minneapolis, but I am asking the community to remain calm as we work to learn more.”
Key Takeaways
- Federal agents claim the shooting was defensive after the driver weaponized his vehicle
- The incident follows a similar Minnesota shooting where ICE agents killed Renee Nicole Good
- Local officials are demanding federal immigration enforcement changes
- The FBI investigation is ongoing with no charges filed yet
The back-to-back shootings have intensified the national debate over federal immigration enforcement methods in American cities.
