Portland Erupts: Labor Against ICE Protests Following Minneapolis Shooting
In a harrowing exclusive, Jose Huerta-Chuma has come forward to share his account of the Minneapolis federal operation, coinciding with a massive Labor Against ICE Portland protest that paralyzed parts of the Pacific Northwest. The 41-year-old Ecuadorian immigrant, a father of American-born children, described the terror of being pursued by Border Patrol agents on January 24, during the same incident that claimed the life of ICU nurse Alex Pretti.
Speaking from a secure undisclosed location, Huerta-Chuma stressed that he is “not a criminal,” explaining that he was simply driving for a rideshare service when federal agents in an unmarked red vehicle began following him.
Huerta-Chuma’s testimony directly contradicts the Department of Homeland Security’s initial claims that he was a “violent criminal illegal alien.” Minnesota state records confirm only minor misdemeanor charges and no felony convictions. He recounted witnessing Pretti being tackled and disarmed moments before the fatal shots were fired, an account now corroborated by video analysis and a preliminary congressional report.
The Minneapolis shooting has ignited nationwide activism, culminating in Saturday’s Labor Against ICE Portland protest. Over a thousand demonstrators, led by labor unions including SEIU Local 503 and the Communications Workers of America (CWA), marched from Elizabeth Caruthers Park to the South Portland ICE facility. The unions framed aggressive immigration enforcement as a direct threat to workers’ rights and community stability.
Although largely peaceful, the protest turned chaotic when federal agents deployed chemical munitions, sending tear gas and pepper balls into nearby streets. Elderly participants and children were among those affected. Portland City Councilor Mitch Green, who was gassed, condemned the use of chemical agents and called for prosecutions under local ordinances. After sunset, tensions escalated further when some protesters pushed trash bins toward security gates, prompting additional flash-bang grenades and rubber bullets from officers stationed on rooftops.
As the Trump administration defends Operation Metro Surge as a public safety measure, the human cost continues to mount. Huerta-Chuma described his life as “upended,” citing sleepless nights, lost work, and constant fear since witnessing Pretti’s death. His attorney confirmed he has applied for a U-visa, a protection for victims of crimes who assist law enforcement, highlighting the irony of being classified as a federal “fugitive.”
READ ALSO: Trump Labels Alex Pretti Insurrectionist Amid FBI Probe
The Portland protest was part of a nationwide “ICE Out” campaign, which included a general strike on Friday, with students walking out of classes and businesses closing in solidarity. Organizers in Portland have vowed to continue rallies until federal operations in the city are suspended.
With the FBI now leading the Minneapolis shooting investigation and Oregon officials demanding an end to militarized raids, tensions between federal enforcement agencies and local communities are at their highest point in years. As one protester’s sign read: “Safety means children not wondering if their parents will come home.”