ICE shoots 2 in Portland Oregon, as officals allege federal agents impersonating utility workers in the state

Tensions heightened in Oregon as elected officials and state utility representatives announced that ICE agents are allegedly impersonating utility workers to gain access to people’s homes. This happened just days before federal agents shot two people in Southeast Portland.

Northwest Natural, Oregon’s largest natural gas provider, issued a public notice on January 7, 2026. In it, the service warned customers about reports of individuals posing as utility workers to gain entry into residents’ homes. The company stressed, “Our workers who show up at your home should either be wearing a uniform and a utility badge or wearing a badge that says ‘CONTRACTOR.’ Their vehicles should be similarly marked with a NW Natural company logo and/or ‘CONTRACTOR.’”

The utility outlined key safety guidance for residents. “Our employees will never ask for immediate access to customers’ homes. They often will go to a back or side yard to access a meter,” the statement said. The notice also clarified that the company schedules visits in advance if a safety check or inspection requires entry into a home.

“Lured him out … they took him”

The alert follows accounts from Oregon State Representative Ricki Ruiz (D-Gresham), who recently raised alarms after hearing that ICE officers were using deceptive tactics in his district. According to reporting via OPB, Ruiz said that in multiple cases, federal agents detained individuals after posing as utility workers. They “lured him out of his house, and they took him,” Ruiz said.

Ruiz represents Oregon’s 50th House District, which spans parts of East Portland and Gresham, regions with significant immigrant populations. He has been vocal about the need for transparency and limits on federal enforcement tactics.

The Portland shooting

Just days after the heightened concerns over alleged impersonation, federal agents shot two people in Southeast Portland. According to the Portland Police Bureau, officers responded to a reported shooting at about 2:18 p.m. Officers later located a man and a woman with apparent gunshot wounds, and emergency responders transported both to a hospital. Authorities confirmed that federal agents shot the individuals. Local police avoided the confrontation, according to Portland news outlet KPTV.

Portland Police Chief Bob Day commented on the incident, stating, “We are still in the early stages of this incident … I am asking the community to remain calm as we work to learn more.”

The FBI’s Portland office is leading the investigation into what federal agencies described as an “agent-involved shooting,” and no detailed timeline or causal account has been independently confirmed beyond initial police and federal statements. 

The incident drew immediate reaction from local elected leaders. Per Good Morning America, Portland Mayor Keith Wilson called for ICE to halt operations in the city until a full and independent investigation is completed, stating, “Our community deserves answers.”

Outside the ICE facility in Portland, hundreds of protesters gathered in response to the shooting; police arrested several people as demonstrators voiced anger over what some described as federal agents’ use of excessive force. The shooting in Portland also follows nationwide scrutiny of federal immigration enforcement, particularly after a federal officer in Minneapolis fatally shot a woman the day before.

Northwest Natural urged anyone who wants to verify if someone visiting their property is an authorized employee or contractor to call its customer service lines at 503-226-4211 or 800-422-4012. The company advised, “If you suspect an imposter, call 9-1-1.”