Tension Spreads Across Nation

Geoff Bennett:

Across the nation, tensions continue to rise over President Trump’s immigration crackdown. Yesterday, federal agents shot and wounded two people in Portland, Oregon, during a traffic stop.

Amna Nawaz:

It came just one day, after the fatal shooting of a woman in Minneapolis stoked outrage and anger.

And, as special correspondent Fred de Sam Lazaro reports, new cell phone video deepened the debate over ISIS conduct.

Fred de Sam Lazaro:

New video emerged today showing 37-year-old Renee Nicole Good and her wife just moments before Good was fatally shot in Minneapolis on Wednesday.

Woman:

You want to come at us? I say, go get yourself some lunch, big boy. Go ahead.

Fred de Sam Lazaro:

It was reportedly taken by the federal agent who fired the shots and showed what happened next.

(Gunshots)

Fred de Sam Lazaro:

Earlier today, Good’s wife released this statement saying, prior to being killed, they’d — quote — “stop to support our neighbors. We had whistles. They had guns.”

Mary Moriarty, Hennepin County, Minnesota, Attorney:

We do have jurisdiction to make this decision that happened in this case where her life was taken in Hennepin County.

Fred de Sam Lazaro:

Meanwhile, Hennepin County attorney Mary Moriarty said Minnesota would be conducting its own investigation into the shooting and called on members of the public to send any evidence directly to her office. The move came after federal officials reversed course and shut out state investigators.

Mary Moriarty:

It does not matter that it was a federal law enforcement agent. I can say that the ICE officer does not have complete immunity here.

Fred de Sam Lazaro:

President Trump addressed the investigation this afternoon from the White House.

Question:

Do you believe that the FBI should be sharing evidence with state officials in Minnesota?

President Donald Trump:

Well, normally, I would, but they’re crooked officials. I mean, Minneapolis and Minnesota, what a beautiful place, but it’s being destroyed.

Fred de Sam Lazaro:

More than 1,000 protesters took to the streets here last night, calling for ICE’s removal from the city.

Rachel Hoppei, Minneapolis Protester:

Get out of here. We don’t want you. You have no right to be here. You’re destroying our communities. Just leave.

Cindy Sundberg, Minneapolis Protester:

ICE is tearing us apart. They’re making people disappear. They’re not following the law. And that’s not Minnesota.

Fred de Sam Lazaro:

Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey also spoke today and pushed back against the notion that the city is unsafe.

Jacob Frey (D), Mayor of Minneapolis, Minnesota: Fifty percent of the shootings that have happened thus far in Minneapolis this year have been ICE. In other words, we have only had two shootings. One of them has been ICE. We are a safe city. ICE is making it less so.

Fred de Sam Lazaro:

Protests also erupted in Portland after Border Patrol agents shot and wounded two people on Thursday, a shooting Portland’s Mayor Keith Wilson described as reckless.

Keith Wilson, Mayor of Portland, Oregon: Today, I want to say clearly that we stand with Minneapolis, we stand with Minnesota, we stand with Chicago, we stand with L.A., we stand with every community that is hurting in our nation.

Fred de Sam Lazaro:

The Department of Homeland Security said the shooting in Portland took place during a targeted vehicle stop and alleged that the targets were undocumented immigrants with ties to a notorious Venezuelan gang.

But Portland’s police chief, Bob Day, said he had no information on the two people shot.

Bob Day, Portland, Oregon, Police Chief:

This is not any way, shape or form of immigration-related on our end. We do not know the facts of this case. We are simply providing that traditional investigative support and perimeter support.

Fred de Sam Lazaro:

Back in Minneapolis, schools remain closed today and officials have offered students the option of remote learning through mid-February.

Woman:

Time to go!

Fred de Sam Lazaro:

That follows a large confrontation just hours after Wednesday’s shooting between immigration enforcement agents and community members outside a South Minneapolis school.

Nicole Lundheim, Minneapolis Parent and Teacher: Before I know it, I’m being attacked, pushed and pulled.

Fred de Sam Lazaro:

Nicole Lundheim had just arrived to pick up her daughter after school and captured the melee on her phone.

Woman:

Step up! Step up!

Fred de Sam Lazaro:

The Department of Homeland Security said agents were chasing a U.S. citizen who impeded their work and the pursuit ended at the school. It said no students or staff were targeted but that a man calling himself a teacher assaulted officers.

Lundheim recalls the episode very differently.

Nicole Lundheim:

Is — it almost seemed intentional to create — to linger long enough to create a crowd, to create chaos.

Fred de Sam Lazaro:

And with reports of immigration enforcement efforts continuing across the Twin Cities today, Lundheim says the level of concern is rising.

Nicole Lundheim:

So students who are immigrants, students who aren’t immigrants, students who have legal standing to be here, but maybe are Black or brown, they are afraid because they could become in the crosshairs, because their best friend, their aunt, their uncle, family members — like, the fear is visceral.

Fred de Sam Lazaro:

Fear that may only rise in coming days, as federal officials say they will reexamine the cases of more than 5,000 refugees living in the state, just the latest move in a widening immigration crackdown here.

For the “PBS News Hour,” I’m Fred de Sam Lazaro in Minneapolis.