ALAMEDA, CALIFORNIA – The United States Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has launched an investigation after US Coast Guard personnel discharged their firearms at a vehicle at the entrance to a base in Alameda, California. The incident occurred late on Thursday, October 23, 2025, following a day of protests against the deployment of federal immigration agents to the San Francisco Bay Area.

According to a statement released by the U.S. Coast Guard, the shooting took place at approximately 10:00 PM Pacific Standard Time (Friday, 8:00 AM EAT). Security personnel reportedly observed a U-Haul truck “driving erratically and attempting to back into Coast Guard Base Alameda.” The Coast Guard stated that its personnel issued multiple verbal commands for the driver to stop, but the driver failed to comply. “When the vehicle’s actions posed a direct threat to the safety of Coast Guard and security personnel, law enforcement officers discharged several rounds of live fire,” the official statement detailed.

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) later confirmed that two civilians sustained injuries. The driver of the truck was wounded in the stomach and is being held for a mental health evaluation, according to the agency. A second individual, described as a bystander, was struck by a fragment, received treatment at a local hospital, and was subsequently released. No Coast Guard personnel were injured in the event.

The FBI's San Francisco office confirmed it was leading the investigation, describing the shooting as an “isolated incident” with no known ongoing threat to the public as of Friday, October 24.

Protests Preceded Shooting Amid Immigration Crackdown

The shooting followed a day of tense demonstrations outside the Alameda base. Hundreds of protesters had gathered early Thursday morning to rally against the arrival of over 100 federal agents, including U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) personnel, as part of the Trump administration's intensified immigration enforcement operations in the region. Demonstrators carried signs with slogans such as “No ICE or Troops in the Bay!” and attempted to block federal vehicles from entering the facility. Law enforcement responded by deploying flash-bang grenades and what appeared to be pepper spray to disperse the crowds, leading to at least one reported injury earlier in the day.

The planned deployment of federal agents had put the San Francisco Bay Area on edge. However, in a sudden reversal on Thursday, President Donald Trump announced he was calling off the “surge” of federal agents into San Francisco after conversations with the city's mayor, Daniel Lurie, and prominent business leaders. Despite this announcement, many protesters remained at the Alameda site throughout the day and into the evening.

Global Context: US Immigration Policy and Use of Force

While this incident has no direct link to Kenya, it occurs within the broader context of the second Trump administration's stringent immigration policies, which have drawn international attention. These policies have emphasized increased interior enforcement, detention, and deportation, abandoning the more targeted approach of previous administrations. The administration has expanded the categories of undocumented immigrants considered priorities for removal to include effectively all who are in the country without authorization.

Human rights organizations and civil liberties groups have raised concerns about the tactics used by federal agents during immigration enforcement operations and in response to protests. There have been multiple reports and lawsuits alleging the use of excessive force—including tear gas, pepper balls, and projectiles—against demonstrators in various U.S. cities like Chicago and Portland. These confrontations underscore the deep divisions within the United States over immigration and the role of federal law enforcement, a topic of significant global interest. The investigation into the Alameda shooting will be closely watched for its findings on the use of force and the circumstances that led to the confrontation. FURTHER INVESTIGATION REQUIRED.