Topline
After two people were shot Thursday by Customs and Border Patrol Agents in Portland, state and local officials in Oregon have blasted the federal response, echoing sentiments from Minneapolis leaders following the fatal shooting of a 37-year-old woman by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer the day prior.
A damaged car is seen as law enforcement officials work the scene following reports that federal immigration officers shot and wounded people in Portland.
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Key Facts
Just as Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey called Department of Homeland Security’s defense on Wednesday’s shooting “bullshit,” so too did Portland City Councilor Sameer Kanal, who said, “You are hearing and you are seeing attempts to justify the unjustifiable, to completely defend the indefensible from our government,” calling it “unacceptable” and telling feds “we see through your bullshit,” KATU reported.
Rep. Maxine Dexter, D-Ore., who wrote on X that violence perpetrated by federal authorities is “straight out of the authoritarian playbook,” later said in a Facebook video she and Rep. Robin Kelly, D-Ill., have introduced articles of impeachment against Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem.
Portland Mayor Keith Wilson also isn’t buying the Trump administration’s report on Thursday’s shooting, saying in a press briefing, “There was a time when we could take them at their word. That time is long past.”
Wilson, similar to Minneapolis leaders, has demanded that ICE leave the city: “I will use every legal and legislative tool available to protect our residents’ civil and human rights.”
The shooting was a byproduct of the “reckless agenda of the Trump administration,” said Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek, who said Trump has fostered “an environment of lawlessness and recklessness.”
Contra
Christine Drazan, a Republican running for governor in Oregon, said she was “disappointed” by comments made by state leaders: “The last thing we need in a moment like this is a bunch of grandstanding politicians exploiting this situation and inciting fear to advance their own political agendas.”
What Did The Dhs And Fbi Say Of Thursday’s Shooting?
DHS first claimed in a statement border patrol agents were making a targeted vehicle stop in Portland, saying the man was a member of Tren de Aragua and that the woman was affiliated with the Venezuelan gang. DHS said after “agents identified themselves to the vehicle occupants, the driver weaponized his vehicle and attempted to run over the law enforcement agents,” noting an agent “fired a defensive shot” in the process. A few minutes later, DHS assistant secretary Tricia McLaughlin also posted, but this time said an agent fired defensive “shots,” modifying the DHS account.The FBI’s Portland office confirmed in a tweet posted at 6:49 p.m. EST it was investigating an agent shooting that left two wounded, saying it occurred around 2:15 p.m. local time, but the FBI appeared to have deleted that tweet within a few hours.
Dhs Identifies Alleged Gang Members
In a post on X Friday morning, DHS identified the victims as Luis David Nico Moncada and Yorlenyz Betzabeth Zambrano-Contreas. Federal officials said Moncada had been in the U.S. illegally since 2022, and Zambrano-Contreas since 2023. The pair have been tied to criminal investigations, officials said, including Zambrano-Contreas’ alleged involvement in a previous shooting in Portland. They both remained hospitalized Friday.
What Do We Know About The Shooting Location?
According to the Oregonian, the shooting took place in a medical clinic parking lot near Portland’s Adventist Health hospital. An eyewitness at the hospital told the Oregonian he saw federal agents try to follow and corner a truck in the parking lot. When an agent pounded on the truck’s window, the driver backed up and moved forward a few times and struck a car behind him before leaving the scene. The report added that the officers fired five shots at the truck as it left the scene.
What Happened In The Aftermath?
Protests continued following Thursday’s shooting, leading to six arrests, according to the Portland Police Bureau. Each of the six individuals face preliminary charges of second-degree disorderly conduct, and several also face charges of interfering with a peace officer. Authorities said 79 people have now been arrested in the city during ICE protests.
What To Watch For
Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield announced: “We are opening a formal investigation into the shooting involving federal agents in Portland today.” The statement added: “We have been clear about our concerns with excessive use of force by federal agents in Portland and nationally…The Oregon DOJ is opening a formal investigation into an incident in Portland in which two people were shot and injured during an encounter with federal agents. The investigation will look into whether any federal officer acted outside the scope of their lawful authority and will include witness interviews, video evidence, and other relevant materials.”