A Message from Chief Price Regarding Recent Immigration Enforcement
The Vancouver Police Department is closely monitoring the tragic events that occurred yesterday, January 7, 2026, in Minneapolis, where a shooting involving an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent resulted in the death of a community member and today’s shooting of two individuals in Portland involving federal agents. These incidents are tragic and reverberate through communities across our country. Our thoughts are with those impacted by these events.
I want to reassure every resident of Vancouver that your Vancouver Police Department is here to serve you. Our mission is to protect the safety and dignity of everyone living in our city, regardless of their immigration or citizenship status. As a reminder, per Department Policy and the Keep Washington Working Act, the Vancouver Police Department does not conduct civil immigration enforcement sweeps or investigations. We strive to be a department where all people feel safe reporting crimes and seeking help without fear.
It is important for the public to recognize that Vancouver is a hub for various law enforcement jurisdictions. At any given time, you may observe a presence from municipal, state, tribal, and federal agencies—including the Washington State Patrol, Clark County Sheriff’s Office, and federal entities like the U.S. Marshals, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and ICE.
There is a significant misconception that local police have the authority to interfere with federal agents conducting their duties. Local law enforcement cannot legally interfere with, obstruct, or prevent federal officers from carrying out their lawful missions. Under both state and federal law, such interference is a criminal offense and can lead to serious felony charges, including obstruction of justice.
We have received reports from concerned citizens regarding ICE agents utilizing forceful tactics, such as breaking vehicle windows to extricate individuals. While these scenes are distressing to witness, it is important to understand that law enforcement officers are legally permitted to use reasonable force to effect an arrest when a subject is non-compliant or refuses to exit a vehicle.
I also want to strongly caution community members against attempting to intervene in these or any other law enforcement investigations or actions. Inserting yourself into an active scene is exceptionally dangerous for you, the officers, and the person in custody. It not only creates a risk of physical harm but also constitutes a crime for which you could be arrested and prosecuted. Community members who are attempting to capture video of law enforcement actions by following law enforcement vehicles must adhere to all state laws, including traffic laws. Disregarding traffic signals, speed limits or driving in a dangerous manner puts our community at risk and can result in a citation or arrest.
We acknowledge the deep concern and fear these events have sparked within our local community and across the nation. However, the policies governing federal agencies are set at the national level. If you wish to advocate for change in how federal immigration enforcement is conducted, I encourage you to direct your voices and concerns to the policy makers and law makers in Washington D.C.
The Vancouver Police Department will remain firm in our commitment to upholding the law, while remaining compassionate to the fears of the community we serve. We ask for your cooperation in maintaining the peace and safety of our city.
Investigation Update – Dec. 4, 2025 incident
As many are aware, we had an incident reported in our community in December which resulted in the Vancouver Police Department opening a traffic collision investigation. Here are the details and status of that investigation:
On December 4, 2025, Vancouver Police became aware that agents from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) arrested/detained a male in the city limits of Vancouver. Upon learning this, Vancouver Police contacted the ICE Portland office, and they confirmed they were the agency involved in the detention in Vancouver. On December 5, 2025, Vancouver Police were dispatched to a call regarding a community member who wanted to report that they had seen a video that was circulating online of a male being detained by ICE in Vancouver where it appears the male’s leg was possibly run over by a vehicle driven by one of the ICE agents. Vancouver Police located and viewed the various videos that were being publicly posted. Based on what was being reported, and what was in the videos, per Washington State Law and Vancouver Police Department policy, a traffic collision report was required. An Investigator from the Vancouver Police Department Traffic Unit was assigned.
Vancouver Police contacted the ICE Office of Professional Responsibility advising them about the complaint and the open traffic investigation. ICE responded that due to this being an open federal case, they would not be able to provide any information, including the identities or contact information of any of the ICE personnel possibly involved in the Vancouver incident.
Investigators with the Vancouver Police Department Traffic Unit reviewed videos captured by various community member cell phones, which were analyzed by specialized software that allows extreme magnification and individual frame analysis. Additionally, they located a post on social media platform X from a person identifying herself as the Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security where she states that the alleged victim had received X rays while in ICE custody.
VPD investigators have been in contact with the family of the man alleged to have been run over by the ICE agent. The family stated he had been transferred out of state and had obtained an attorney. The VPD Traffic Investigator provided his contact information to the family, and they advised the investigator they would provide his information to the attorney.
As of January 8, 2026, VPD Investigators have not had any access to documents related to the ICE internal investigation, have not been able to obtain any video from the ICE agents body worn cameras, have not been provided any information on the identities of any of the agents, have not been able to access the medical clearance records the Department of Homeland Security referenced in their social media post, and have not received a call from the alleged victim or his attorney. The investigation is suspended until contact is established with the party involved or his legal representative.