At a Glance
- No bodycam, surveillance, or bystander video exists of a Border Patrol agent wounding two people in Portland last Thursday
- Driver Luis David Nino-Moncada admitted ramming the agents’ rental car to flee, according to an FBI affidavit
- Passenger Yorlenys Betzabeth Zambrano-Contreras remains hospitalized; both face federal charges
- Why it matters: The absence of video evidence intensifies scrutiny of federal immigration tactics after back-to-back shootings in Minneapolis and Portland
Federal agents shot and wounded two Venezuelan nationals during an immigration stop in a Portland medical-office parking lot, and the FBI now states no video of the incident exists. The driver, Luis David Nino-Moncada, told investigators he deliberately struck the agents’ vehicle to escape, while his passenger, Yorlenys Betzabeth Zambrano-Contreras, was hit in the chest. Both were hospitalized and now face charges, intensifying national debate over federal immigration enforcement tactics.
No Recorded Footage Found
Agents confronted the pair last Thursday after identifying their pickup truck as linked to immigration violations. According to an FBI affidavit unsealed Monday, one agent opened fire when the driver reversed and “repeatedly slammed” into the agents’ unoccupied rental car, smashing headlights and dislodging the front bumper. The agents claimed they feared for their safety and that of bystanders.
Key findings released by the FBI:
- None of the six agents activated body-worn cameras
- No surveillance cameras captured the encounter
- No bystander video has surfaced
- Four of six agents on scene have been interviewed
Special Agent Daniel Jeffreys wrote that investigators “have uncovered no surveillance or other video footage of the shooting.”
Charges and Court Appearances
Nino-Moncada, 27, appeared Monday in federal court in Portland wearing a white sweatshirt and sweatpants, holding his left arm gingerly. An interpreter translated proceedings, and the judge ordered him detained pending a Wednesday preliminary hearing.
According to the agent’s affidavit, Nino-Moncada “admitted to intentionally ramming the Border Patrol vehicle in an attempt to flee, and he stated that he knew they were immigration enforcement vehicles.”
His passenger, Zambrano-Contreras, 25, remains hospitalized after a chest wound and is now held at a private immigration detention facility in Tacoma, Washington. She faces a charge of illegal entry filed last week by federal prosecutors in Texas.
| Individual | Injury | Status | Charge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Luis David Nino-Moncada | Gunshot to arm and abdomen | In federal custody | Assault on federal officer, property damage |
| Yorlenys Betzabeth Zambrano-Contreras | Gunshot to chest | Detained Tacoma | Illegal entry |
Gang Affiliation Allegations
The Department of Homeland Security says both individuals entered the U.S. illegally-Nino-Moncada in 2022 and Zambrano-Contreras in 2023-and links them to the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua. Portland Police Chief Bob Day confirmed the pair had “some nexus” to the gang, coming under scrutiny during a July shooting investigation. Neither was named a suspect in that case, though Zambrano-Contreras had a prior prostitution arrest and Nino-Moncada was present during a related search warrant.
Attorney General Pam Bondi framed the encounter as an attack on law enforcement: “Anyone who crosses the red line of assaulting law enforcement will be met with the full force of this Justice Department. This man-an illegal alien with ties to a foreign terrorist organization-should NEVER have been in our country to begin with, and we will ensure he NEVER walks free in America again.”
Public Defender Response
Oregon Federal Public Defender Fidel Cassino-DuCloux pushed back, saying the shooting and ensuing charges “follow a well-worn playbook that the government has developed to justify the dangerous and unprofessional conduct of its agents.”
Broader Context
The Portland incident occurred one day after a federal agent in Minneapolis fatally shot a woman during another immigration operation, triggering nationwide protests. The FBI is investigating both shootings.
Key Takeaways
- No video evidence exists of the Portland shooting, raising transparency questions
- The driver admits ramming agents’ vehicles, while the passenger faces illegal-entry charges
- Federal officials cite gang ties; defense lawyers accuse agents of dangerous tactics
- The case fuels ongoing scrutiny of immigration enforcement methods across the country
Cameron R. Hayes reported from Seattle.
