After Minnesota, Federal Agents Shoot Two in Portland — ICE Violence Escalates
Two people were shot by federal agents in Southeast Portland, according to police, triggering an FBI-led investigation and intense backlash from local and state leaders. The incident comes just one day after a fatal ICE-involved shooting in Minneapolis, escalating fears about the growing use of force by federal immigration and border agencies inside U.S. cities.
Initial statements indicated the agents were working for Border Patrol before being deleted, raising further questions about transparency, jurisdiction, and accountability. Portland police emphasized they are not participating in immigration enforcement, while the FBI has taken control of the investigation.
Streets were closed near the scene as officials urged calm amid rising tension nationwide. Portland Mayor Keith Wilson condemned the shooting, warning that federal militarization is eroding constitutional protections and calling for ICE to halt operations in the city. Oregon Senator Jeff Merkley also demanded answers, urging peaceful responses as communities grapple with the consequences of aggressive federal action.
Historian Dr. Allan Lichtman and Sam Lichtman examine what these back-to-back shootings reveal about the Trump administration’s immigration strategy, DHS and ICE operations, federal overreach, and the dangerous normalization of force inside American cities.
Can the Left Resist In the Face of Increasing Repression?
"I don't think you can vote your way out of this mess."
