Keith Wilson demands suspension of activities in Oregon city pending investigation into wounding of two individuals
According to details received by The Chenab Times, Portland Mayor Keith Wilson has urged the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency to cease all operations in the city of Portland, located in the northwestern state of Oregon, following a shooting incident in which federal agents wounded two people.
The incident took place on January 8, 2026, in the Hazelwood neighbourhood of east Portland, near Southeast Main Street. Agents from U.S. Customs and Border Protection, an agency under the Department of Homeland Security alongside ICE, shot a man and a woman during an enforcement action. Both individuals were hospitalised with gunshot wounds, though their conditions remain undisclosed. The Federal Bureau of Investigation has assumed lead responsibility for the probe into the use of force. Local Portland police responded to the scene but confirmed their officers were not involved in the shooting.
This event occurred one day after a separate fatal shooting involving an ICE agent in Minneapolis, in the midwestern state of Minnesota, where a woman was killed during an operation. That incident has sparked widespread protests and criticism of federal immigration tactics across the United States.
Portland, a city of approximately 635,000 residents on the Pacific coast, maintains policies limiting local cooperation with federal immigration authorities unless required by law, reflecting longstanding tensions over enforcement in urban areas. The mayor’s demand underscores ongoing debates in the U.S. federal system regarding the balance between national immigration policies and local public safety priorities. Internationally, such incidents highlight discussions on law enforcement protocols and civil rights in the context of migration management.
Details emerging from official statements indicate the Portland shooting involved a vehicle-related confrontation, with preliminary reports suggesting the wounded individuals—a married couple—may have been perceived as posing a threat. No arrests or charges related to the incident have been announced as of January 9, 2026. Federal authorities have provided limited comment, deferring to the ongoing FBI investigation.
Community reactions include calls for calm from city leaders, alongside planned vigils and demonstrations. The timing coincided with scheduled protests against federal immigration activities in downtown Portland. Broader national attention links the events to intensified enforcement efforts under the current U.S. administration.
Mayor Keith Wilson stated: “We cannot sit by while constitutional protections erode and bloodshed mounts. Portland is not a ‘training ground’ for militarized agents, and the ‘full force’ threatened by the administration has deadly consequences. As Mayor, I call on ICE to end all operations in Portland until a full investigation can be completed.” He further emphasised that federal actions undermine community-based safety and pledged to utilise available tools to safeguard residents’ rights. No immediate response from federal immigration authorities to the mayor’s call has been reported.
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Global Affairs Desk at The Chenab Times covers international developments, global diplomacy, and foreign policy issues through fact-based reporting, explainers, and analytical pieces. The desk focuses on major geopolitical events, diplomatic engagements, and international trends, with an emphasis on verified information, multiple perspectives, and contextual understanding of global affairs.
