URGENT UPDATE: Tensions soared as Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents dramatically burst into an Oregon home, shocking a family with a mother and her 3-month-old baby present. The incident unfolded in Gresham, just 17 miles outside of Portland, on Wednesday evening, and was captured on video that has since gone viral across social media platforms.
The footage, recorded by Mari Magana, shows agents kicking down a bedroom door while shouting, “Police, don’t move, hands up,” and pointing their weapons at the terrified family. In a heart-wrenching moment, the baby was heard crying off-camera after the chaos erupted. “This is unfair; they scared my baby,” Magana expressed in her Facebook post, condemning the aggressive tactics used by the agents.
The family’s emotional turmoil was echoed by the baby’s grandmother, Gloria Bautista, who stated, “The mother is so traumatized that anything scares her, she’s shaking all the time.” The two male relatives present during the raid were detained by ICE, with one agent reportedly pulling a suspect by the hair out of the room.
Authorities confirmed that the detained individuals had been involved in the operation targeting a “previously removed violent criminal illegal alien from Mexico,” who is still at large. A senior Department of Homeland Security official stated, “ICE officers attempted to pull this criminal illegal alien over in a vehicle stop. He attempted to evade arrest and rammed into a United States Postal Service vehicle before fleeing on foot into an apartment.”
As of now, the target remains on the run, while the two other individuals taken into custody are claimed by the family to be in the U.S. legally.
The incident has drawn significant attention and sparked outrage, leading to a GoFundMe campaign launched by Ashley Valdez, a cousin of Magana. The campaign aims to raise funds for legal assistance, as Valdez emphasized, “These people are not criminals. They are hard-working people, they don’t deserve this.” Valdez described the traumatic experience, stating that Magana feared for her newborn’s safety during the chaotic raid.
This dramatic event highlights the ongoing tensions surrounding immigration enforcement in the U.S. As federal agencies face increasing scrutiny for their tactics, the community in Gresham is left reeling from the emotional fallout.
Officials noted that “no injuries were sustained” during the operation, but the psychological impact on the family remains profound. The public outcry over the incident is likely to continue, as discussions around ICE’s methods and the treatment of immigrants in the U.S. evolve.
As of now, the situation in Gresham remains tense, and the family is seeking legal support while grappling with the aftermath of this traumatic experience. The community is rallying behind them, and further developments are expected as officials investigate the operation and its broader implications.
Stay tuned for more updates on this developing story as the community responds and seeks justice for the family affected by this alarming incident.