Oregon Launches State Investigation Into Border Patrol Shooting That Wounded Two in Portland

Oregon authorities have opened a state-level investigation into a Border Patrol shooting in Portland that left a man and a woman wounded during a vehicle stop, according to state and federal officials.

The incident happened Thursday afternoon during what the Department of Homeland Security described as a targeted operation. Federal officials say a Border Patrol agent opened fire after the driver of the vehicle allegedly attempted to run over an agent. The two people who were shot were later hospitalized and are reported to be in stable condition. Both remain in federal custody.

The Department of Homeland Security has claimed the individuals have ties to Tren de Aragua, a notorious Venezuelan gang that has been linked by federal authorities to violent criminal activity. Officials have not released detailed evidence outlining those alleged connections.

Portland police say local officers were not involved in the shooting but responded after receiving reports of gunfire. Officers later located the injured individuals at a separate location and transported them to a hospital. The FBI is investigating the incident as a possible assault on federal officers, with assistance from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield announced the state will conduct its own investigation into whether any federal officers acted outside the scope of their lawful authority. The review will include witness interviews, video evidence, and other materials tied to the incident.

Portland Mayor Keith Wilson sharply criticized the federal government’s account of events and called for Immigration and Customs Enforcement to halt operations in the city until investigations are complete. Demonstrators gathered outside a Portland ICE facility later that day, leading to several arrests.

The shooting comes just one day after an ICE agent fatally shot a woman in Minneapolis, an incident that triggered protests nationwide and intensified scrutiny of federal immigration enforcement under the Trump administration.

State and local leaders in Oregon say the investigation is necessary to ensure accountability and public safety as tensions surrounding immigration enforcement continue to rise.

Explore: NBCPalmSprings.com, where we are connecting the Valley.