Pair shot by immigration agents in Portland had gang links, officials say
A man and woman shot by an immigration agent in Portland, Oregon, on Thursday had ties to the Venezuelan Tren de Aragua gang, authorities said.
At a news conference Friday, Portland Police Chief Bob Day confirmed that both had “some involvement” with the gang but did not elaborate on the extent of the alleged connection.
Federal officials said the agent was forced to open fire on the pair after the driver tried to run over him during a traffic stop. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) said the two were gang members who “armed their vehicles against Border Patrol.”
Both remain conscious in the hospital and are “on the road to recovery,” Day said.
On Friday, DHS identified the injured driver as Luis David Nino-Moncada, who entered the United States illegally in 2022 and has since been arrested for alleged DUI and unauthorized use of a vehicle.
The other passenger who was injured was Yorlenys Betzabeth Zambrano-Contreras, who reportedly entered the United States illegally in 2023 near El Paso, Texas.
DHS alleged that “Contreras played an active role in a prostitution ring in Tren de Aragua and was previously involved in a shooting in Portland.”
Federal officials said some U.S. media misreported the two as a married couple.
When the agents identified themselves at a traffic stop, the driver tried to run them over, according to the department.
The statement said, “An agent, fearing for his life and safety, opened fire for defensive purposes. The driver fled the scene with the passenger.”
They then drove five miles (8 km) to an apartment complex where they called for emergency medical help, according to DHS.
On Friday, Day said the two were “connected” to the July shooting, in which the victim claimed he was assaulted by members of Tren de Aragua. He did not provide further details about the alleged connection.
“This information is in no way meant to belittle, condone, support or accept any actions that occurred yesterday,” he said. “But it is important that we adhere to the rule of law, that we adhere to the facts, that we remain a trustworthy and legitimate police department for all Portlanders.”
He also said Tren de Aragua also has a presence in Portland, but that “doesn’t seem to be as significant as some people believe.”
According to Day, Zambrano-Contreras had previously been arrested in the area on prostitution charges, and Nino-Moncada was present when the search warrant was executed.
It’s unclear whether the two face any charges in the incident, which occurred a day after an immigration agent shot and killed a motorist in Minneapolis on Thursday. DHS said the driver tried to take over the agency, but that account has been disputed by state officials.
Recently, DHS sent agents to Minneapolis to arrest and deport illegal immigrants, following similar sweeps in Portland, Los Angeles, Chicago and other cities.
Hundreds of people protested outside an immigrant detention center in Portland on Thursday night. Authorities arrested six people for disorderly conduct.
