Sen. Starr, Rep. Elmer condemn violent anti-law enforcement rhetoric

Republican Leaders Condemn Reckless Rhetoric Undermining Law Enforcement and Stoking Fear in Portland
By Joint statement By Senate Republican Leader Bruce Starr and House Republican Leader Lucetta Elmer

YAMHILL COUNTY, Ore. – Senate Republican Leader Bruce Starr (R-Dundee) and House Republican Leader Lucetta Elmer (R-McMinnville) issued the following statement in response to the federal law enforcement incident in Portland involving suspected members of the Tren de Aragua gang and the unsurprising reaction from Oregon Democrat politicians:

“Oregonians deserve facts, not fear-mongering.

According to federal authorities, this incident involved a targeted law-enforcement operation against individuals tied to a transnational criminal organization involved in drug trafficking, sex trafficking, and violent crime. When federal agents identified themselves, the driver used their vehicle as a weapon, forcing an officer to make a split-second, defensive decision.

That is not ‘federal violence against Portlanders,’ as legislative Democrats have suggested. That is law enforcement attempting to remove dangerous gang members from our streets, turned into a life-threatening situation.

Republicans support the rule of law and law enforcement at every level. We stand with the men and women who put their lives on the line every day to protect our communities. We will never side with drug dealers, sex traffickers, or gang members over the officers sworn to uphold the law.

It is deeply irresponsible for elected officials to immediately politicize an active investigation, delegitimize law enforcement, and inflame fear by suggesting federal agents are acting as some kind of secret police. That rhetoric is reckless and dangerous at a moment when clarity and calm are needed most.

An investigation is underway, and transparency matters. But so do facts. Violent criminal organizations do not stop at city limits, state lines, or political narratives. When officers are forced to act in defense of life, they deserve support, not condemnation.

Criminals operating in Oregon should be on notice: the days of freely exploiting our communities are over. And politicians should turn down the temperature, stop grandstanding, and start standing with law enforcement instead of siding with violent criminals for political gain.”