PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) 鈥� Federal immigration agents shot and wounded two people in a vehicle outside a hospital in Portland on Thursday, a day after an officer in Minnesota, authorities said.
The shooting drew hundreds of protesters to the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement building at night, and Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield vowed to investigate 鈥渨hether any federal officer acted outside the scope of their lawful authority鈥� and refer criminal charges to the prosecutor’s office if warranted.
The Department of Homeland Security said the vehicle’s passenger was 鈥渁 Venezuelan illegal alien affiliated with the transnational Tren de Aragua prostitution ring鈥� who was involved in a recent shooting in the city. When agents identified themselves to the occupants during a 鈥渢argeted vehicle stop鈥� in the afternoon, the driver tried to run them over, the department said in a statement.
鈥淔earing for his life and safety, an agent fired a defensive shot,鈥� it said. 鈥淭he driver drove off with the passenger, fleeing the scene.鈥�
There was no immediate independent corroboration of that account or of any gang affiliation of the vehicle’s occupants. During prior shootings involving agents from President Donald Trump’s immigration crackdowns in U.S. cities, including the fatal one Wednesday in Minneapolis, on the administration’s characterizations of what prompted the shootings.
Trump and his allies have consistently blamed the gang for being at the root of violence and drug dealing in some U.S. cities.
The Portland shooting escalates tensions in a city that has long had a contentious relationship with Trump, including due to his recent there. The city saw outside the ICE building.
According to the Portland Police bureau, officers initially responded to a report of a shooting outside Adventist Health hospital at 2:18 p.m. Thursday.
A few minutes later, police received information that a man who had been shot was asking for help in a residential area a couple of miles away. Officers went there and found a man and a woman with gunshot wounds. Officers determined that they were injured in the shooting with federal agents, police said.
Their conditions were not immediately known. Portland police said officers applied a tourniquet to one of them.
City Council President Elana Pirtle-Guiney said during a meeting that 鈥渁s far as we know, both of these individuals are still alive, and we are hoping for more positive updates throughout the afternoon.鈥�
At a nighttime news conference, Police Chief Bob Day said the FBI was leading the investigation and he had no details about the events that led to the shooting.
Mayor Keith Wilson and the City Council called on ICE to end all operations in Oregon鈥檚 largest city until a full investigation is completed.
鈥淲e stand united as elected officials in saying that we cannot sit by while constitutional protections erode and bloodshed mounts,鈥� they said in a statement. 鈥淧ortland is not a 鈥榯raining ground鈥� for militarized agents, and the 鈥榝ull force鈥� threatened by the administration has deadly consequences.鈥�
Wilson also suggested at a news conference that he does not necessarily believe the federal government’s account of the shooting: 鈥淭here was a time we could take them at their word. That time is long past.鈥�
Democratic State Sen. Kayse Jama, who lives near where it took place, said Oregon is a welcoming state 鈥� but he told federal agents to leave.
鈥淵ou are not welcome,鈥� Jama said. 鈥淵ou need to get the hell out of Oregon.鈥�
The city officials said 鈥渇ederal militarization undermines effective, community鈥慴ased public safety, and it runs counter to the values that define our region. We鈥檒l use every legal and legislative tool available to protect our residents鈥� civil and human rights.鈥�
They urged residents to show up with 鈥渃alm and purpose during this difficult time.鈥�
Several dozen people gathered in the evening near the scene where police found the wounded people.
鈥淚t鈥檚 just been chaos,鈥� said one, Anjalyssa Jones. 鈥淭he community is trying to get answers.鈥�
U.S. Sen. Jeff Merkley, an Oregon Democrat, urged protesters to remain peaceful.
鈥淭rump wants to generate riots,鈥� he said on the social platform X. 鈥淒on鈥檛 take the bait.鈥�
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Johnson reported from Seattle. Associated Press writer Audrey McAvoy in Honolulu contributed.
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