2026 U.S. Border Patrol shooting in Portland, Oregon

2026 Portland shooting
Part of the immigration raids, arrests, and shootings by U.S. immigration agents in the second Trump administration
Location45°30′51″N 122°33′39″W / 45.5140987°N 122.5609393°W / 45.5140987; -122.5609393
Parking lot of Adventist Health Portland
Hazelwood, Portland, Oregon, U.S.
DateJanuary 8, 2026
2:15 p.m. (PST; UTC-08:00)
Attack type
Shooting by law enforcement
Injured2 (Nico-Moncada and Zambrano-Contreras)
AccusedUnknown CBP agent

On January 8, 2026, two unarmed people were shot and wounded by the US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) at 2:15 p.m. in the Hazelwood neighborhood of Portland, Oregon.[1] Department of Homeland Security spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin claimed that the shooting was in self-defense and that one of the victims "weaponized his vehicle and attempted to run over the law enforcement agents".[2] Portland City Council president Elana Pirtle-Guiney said that the two were still alive. As of January 9, 2026, the Federal Bureau of Investigation was investigating the incident,[3] and the Portland Police Bureau (PPB) secured the crime scenes shortly thereafter.[3][4][5]

Background

Hazelwood is home to many immigrant families. Several local residents said that immigration agents did not have heavy ground presence in Hazelwood in the weeks immediately prior to the shooting.[1] The Bria Apartment complex from which the victims called emergency services was, according to a resident, safe and had not experienced any gang-like activity.[6] The shooting incidentally took place less than one day after the killing of Renée Good, a US citizen who was shot by an ICE agent in Minneapolis.[2]

Victims

United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) released the names of the man and woman shot as Luis David Nico-Moncada and Yorlenys Betzabeth Zambrano-Contreras. The DHS said both entered the United States illegally from Venezuela;[7][2][8] Nico-Moncada in 2022 and Zambrano-Contreras in 2023.[2][9] The DHS furthermore claimed both were "suspected Tren de Aragua gang associates", alleging that Zambrano-Contreras participated in a prostitution ring,[2][10] and in a previous shooting in Portland.[10] Portland City Council member Jamie Dunphy, a senior law enforcement source, and the Northwest Treeplanters and Farmworkers United (PCUN) farmworkers union confirmed that Nico-Moncada and Zambrano-Contreras are a married couple,[10][11][12] while a DHS official said they were not.[10] It was reported that the pair and their children resided in the income-restricted Bria Apartments where many Venezuelan nationals and Oaxacan immigrants lived at the time, but the leasing office could not confirm this statement due to federal housing laws.[6]

Incident

According to the DHS, the couple were subjected to a "targeted vehicle stop" by CBP agents in the parking lot of Adventist Health Portland adjacent to Southeast Main Street.[13][14][15] They claimed that after agents identified themselves to the vehicle occupant, the driver of the vehicle, Nico-Moncada, reportedly attempted to run over the CBP agents.[7][13] One witness claims the couple drove away after agents banged on their vehicle's window.[16] Right after the shots were fired, Nico-Moncada struck a black sedan with his car in the process of driving away.[7] DHS first claimed that the agent fired "a defensive shot", which DHS secretary Tricia McLaughlin later revised to multiple "shots",[9] "fearing for his life and safety",[13] which as a result hit the man in the arm and the woman in the chest at approximately 2:15 p.m. local time.[14][15][17] One witness said they heard five gunshots, with officers having boxed in the vehicle which they followed into the parking lot.[9][16] Emergency personnel later confirmed that the man had suffered not one, but two gunshot wounds.[7][8]

Portland officers responded to the report of a shooting at approximately 2:18 p.m.[5][13][11] They arrived outside the Adventist hospital campus shortly after.[4][15][2] However, the couple drove away from the scene of the incident after the shooting before the husband called 911 for help, claiming they were shot by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents.[18][14][17][19] At 2:24, officers received his distress call from outside the Bria Apartments complex where they lived,[1][7] located on Northeast 146th Avenue and East Burnside Street,[5] approximately 2 to 3 miles away from the scene of the shooting.[4][13][14][20] Police discovered both conscious,[7] with apparent gunshot wounds,[5][13][11] applied a tourniquet, and called for emergency medical personnel.[21][22] Witnesses saw ambulances parked in front of the apartment complex and said the couple "appeared conscious" as they were loaded into the ambulances.[1][7] They were transported to a local hospital shortly after,[5][11] and medical technicians rushing them to the hospital described both as Spanish speakers.[7][17]

Local officers said no federal officers involved in the shooting were at the scene when they arrived.[7] No federal agents were injured in the shooting.[10] By January 9, both had undergone surgery and were in stable condition.[6] Later that day, Nico-Moncada was released from the hospital and was taken into FBI custody.[23]

Investigation

Hours after the incident,[24] Oregon attorney general Dan Rayfield said that the Oregon Department of Justice had opened an investigation the day of the shooting.[5][11][25] Rayfield stated the investigation would draw from interviews with witnesses and video evidence to determine if CBP agents had exceeded their lawful authority in the shooting.[7][13][24] He also said the FBI had opened a "concurrent" investigation, hoping that "cooperation will continue".[7]

Portland Police chief Bob Day said that they did not know which federal department was involved. Day added that local officers were providing "investigative support and perimeter support" that was "minimal" to the FBI-led investigation.[8][12] Day later stated that the couple's possible connection to the gang "in no way draws a throughline" to the shooting.[6] However, Day stated that Zambrano-Contreras was previously arrested for prostitution in Washington County after police served her search warrant and during which Nico-Moncada was present.[6]

Independent investigations found Nico-Moncada had an open DUI case in Washington County filed in early December 2025. He also had a number of speeding tickets in Multnomah County. Zambrano-Contreras was listed as a witness in grand jury proceedings. Court records also showed that Nico-Moncada has a protective order against Zambrano-Contreras that was obtained in November 2025 after he wrote that she hit him with her car and told people she would kill him the next time she saw him. Although the judge approved the request, the couple remained together.[23]

Aftermath

Further information: List of Renée Good protests

The evening of the shooting, about 400 people gathered for a candlelight vigil outside Portland City Hall,[1][6] organized by the Portland chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America.[26] Ana Muñoz, director of community defense at the Portland-based Latino Network, announced the organization would support the couple and their children.[6]

Hundreds gathered outside the waterfront Portland ICE facility to protest,[8][12][17][6] which the police moved protesters from before 9 p.m.,[17] later making six arrests for disorderly conduct.[6][27] 60-90 protesters remained around the facility at midnight but roads were clear.[12] On January 13, shooting victim Nino-Moncada was indicted on charges of aggravated assault against a federal officer and damaging federal property. The following day, he pleaded not guilty to the charges.[28]

On February 2, The Guardian, citing court records, reported that federal prosecutors had told the judge in the case they "were not suggesting" Nino-Moncada was a gang member and that Zambrano-Contreras was a reported victim of a sexual assault and robbery rather than a suspect in the prior shooting incident. Portland city council member Sameer Kanal stated: "the federal government cannot be trusted. Our default position should be skepticism and understanding they lie very regularly...There’s a playbook of demonizing people...and claiming vehicles were used as ‘weapons.’ We see a pattern of victim-blaming, and it’s important we push back, because it’s propaganda."[29]

Reactions

Federal

Oregon senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden both publicly responded to the shooting. Merkley stated: "Please keep protests of Trump's ICE/CBP peaceful, as Trump wants to generate riots. Don't take the bait." Wyden stated that Trump's "deployment of federal agents in my hometown is clearly inflaming violence – and must end".[11]

Representative Suzanne Bonamici stated: "Minneapolis yesterday, Portland today. This violence must stop now. Those responsible must be investigated – and not just by Kash Patel's FBI – and held accountable." Representative Maxine Dexter stated: "ICE has done nothing but inject terror, chaos, and cruelty into our communities. Trump's immigration machine is using violence to control our communities – straight out of the authoritarian playbook. ICE must immediately end all active operations in Portland." Representative Janelle Bynum stated: "This isn't law enforcement, it's state-sponsored terrorism. Stop fucking with us."[30]

Local officials

Mayor Keith Wilson and Governor Tina Kotek held a press conference.[13][1] Day said: "We understand the heightened emotion and tension many are feeling in the wake of the shooting in Minneapolis, but I am asking the community to remain calm as we work to learn more."[20][22] Addressing federal agents, Oregon state senator Kayse Jama said: "This is Oregon. We do not need you, you are not welcome and you need to get the hell out of our community."[4][8] In a statement, Wilson said: "We cannot sit by while constitutional protections erode and bloodshed mounts. Portland is not a 'training ground' for militarized agents, and the 'full force' threatened by the administration has deadly consequences. As Mayor, I call on ICE to end all operations in Portland until a full investigation can be completed."[31] Kotek described the shooting as a "terrible, unnecessary violent event", placing blame on the Trump Administration's deployment of federal agents to Portland.[32] However, she also would call for a greater investigation in order to establish the specific details of the incident.[32]

The Portland City Council was meeting on the afternoon of the shooting, and went into recess immediately upon receiving word of the incident. District 1 councilors Candace Avalos, Jamie Dunphy, and Loretta Smith issued a joint statement, referring to the shooting as "part of a pattern of violence that we have seen too many times across our country".[15] Separately, Dunphy said: "We have a clear pattern of disinformation coming out of the federal government."[33] The Multnomah County Board of Commissioners stated: "What we can say now is enough is enough. The terror and violence ICE is causing in our neighborhoods must end now."[2]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f Peel, Sophie; Hou, Joanna; Schwartz, Andrew (January 8, 2026). "Border Patrol Agent Wounds Two People in Portland Shooting". Willamette Week. Archived from the original on January 9, 2026. Retrieved January 9, 2026.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g Lenthang, Marlene; Ainsley, Julia (January 9, 2026). "2 people shot by Border Patrol agent in Portland identified by DHS". NBC. Archived from the original on January 9, 2026. Retrieved January 9, 2026.
  3. ^ a b Seibold, Hannah (January 8, 2026). "Federal agents shoot, injure 2 in East Portland". Your Oregon News. Retrieved January 9, 2026.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  4. ^ a b c d Mackey, Robert (January 8, 2026). "US border patrol agents shoot two people in Portland". The Guardian. Retrieved January 8, 2026.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  5. ^ a b c d e f "Two wounded in a shooting with US federal agents in Portland, Oregon". Al Jazeera. January 9, 2026. Archived from the original on January 9, 2026. Retrieved January 9, 2026.
  6. ^ a b c d e f g h i Shumway, Julia; Baumhardt, Alex; Maldonado, Mia; Nanguneri, Shaanth (January 9, 2026). "Pair shot by federal officers in Portland had unspecified Tren de Aragua ties, police say". Oregon Capital Chronicle. Archived from the original on January 9, 2026. Retrieved January 10, 2026.
  7. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Fortin, Jacey; Griffin, Anna; Aleaziz, Hamed (January 9, 2026). "Federal Officials Identify Pair Shot by Border Patrol in Portland, Ore". The New York Times. Retrieved January 9, 2026.
  8. ^ a b c d e Regalado, Francesca; Griffin, Anna; Aleaziz, Hamed; Fuller, Thomas (January 9, 2026). "What We Know About the Shooting in Portland, Ore". The New York Times. Retrieved January 9, 2026.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  9. ^ a b c Pequeño IV, Antonio; Stunson, Mike (January 9, 2026). "Oregon Politicians Blast Portland DHS Shooting: 'Out Of The Authoritarian Playbook'". Forbes. Archived from the original on January 9, 2026. Retrieved January 9, 2026.
  10. ^ a b c d e Harvey, Lex (January 9, 2026). "Oregon to investigate Border Patrol shooting of man and woman who feds say have ties to notorious gang". CNN. Archived from the original on January 9, 2026. Retrieved January 9, 2026.
  11. ^ a b c d e f Loria, Michael; Nguyen, Thao (January 8, 2026). "2 injured in shooting involving federal agents in Portland, Oregon". USA Today. Archived from the original on January 9, 2026. Retrieved January 8, 2026.
  12. ^ a b c d Freiman, Jordan; Tanyos, Faris (January 9, 2026). "2 people shot by Border Patrol agents in Portland, Oregon, DHS says". CBS. Archived from the original on January 9, 2026. Retrieved January 9, 2026.
  13. ^ a b c d e f g h Rush, Claire; Johnson, Gene (January 9, 2026). "Federal immigration officers shoot and wound 2 people in Portland, Oregon, authorities say". Associated Press. Retrieved January 9, 2026.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  14. ^ a b c d Pequeño IV, Antonio; Ray, Siladitya (January 8, 2026). "DHS Claims Couple Shot In Portland Are Affiliated With Venezuelan Gang—Mayor Demands Halt On ICE Operations". Forbes. Retrieved January 9, 2026.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  15. ^ a b c d Wilson, Conrad; Zielinski, Alex (January 8, 2026). "Mayor Keith Wilson calls on ICE 'to halt all operations in Portland' after federal law enforcement shooting". Oregon Public Broadcasting. Archived from the original on January 9, 2026. Retrieved January 8, 2026.
  16. ^ a b Bernstein, Maxine (January 8, 2026). "Feds say shooting in Portland by Border Patrol was self-defense; witness describes agents cornering truck". Oregon Live. The Oregonian. Archived from the original on January 9, 2026. Retrieved January 9, 2026.
  17. ^ a b c d e Griffin, Anna; Aleaziz, Hamed; Fuller, Thomas (January 8, 2026). "Federal Agents Shoot 2 During Traffic Stop in Portland, Ore". The New York Times. Retrieved January 9, 2026.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  18. ^ Hammond, Elise (January 8, 2026). "Two people shot by federal agents in Portland, Oregon, local police and FBI say". CNN. Retrieved January 9, 2026.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  19. ^ Parks, Casey; Wu, Daniel (January 8, 2026). "Border Patrol agents shoot two in Portland, Oregon, officials say". The Washington Post. Retrieved January 9, 2026.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  20. ^ a b Singh, Kanishka; Ward, Jasper; Brooks, Brad (January 9, 2026). "US border agent shoots and wounds two people in Portland". Reuters. Retrieved January 9, 2026.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  21. ^ Matza, Max (January 9, 2026). "Two wounded in shooting involving federal agents in Portland". BBC. Seattle, Washington. Archived from the original on January 9, 2026. Retrieved January 9, 2026.
  22. ^ a b "Two Shot and Injured by Federal Agents in Hazelwood Neighborhood". www.portland.gov. January 8, 2026. Archived from the original on January 9, 2026. Retrieved January 9, 2026.
  23. ^ a b Corser, Bobby; Varma, Tanvi (January 9, 2025). "Two shot by border agent in Portland have Tren de Aragua ties, DHS and police say". KATU. Archived from the original on January 9, 2026. Retrieved January 10, 2025.
  24. ^ a b Svirnovskiy, Gregory (January 9, 2026). "Oregon to investigate CBP shooting in Portland amid turmoil over immigration crackdown". Politico. Archived from the original on January 10, 2026. Retrieved January 9, 2026.
  25. ^ "Attorney General Dan Rayfield Statement on January 8th Shooting in Portland Involving Federal Agents" (Press release). Oregon Department of Justice. January 8, 2026. Archived from the original on January 10, 2026. Retrieved January 9, 2026.
  26. ^ Bach, Jonathan (January 8, 2026). "Candlelight vigil surrounds Portland City Hall as protesters decry Border Patrol shooting". Oregon Live. Archived from the original on January 9, 2026. Retrieved January 8, 2026.
  27. ^ Mackey, Robert (January 9, 2026). "Six protesters arrested in Portland after two people shot by border patrol agents". The Guardian. Retrieved January 9, 2026.
  28. ^ Canon, Gabrielle (January 14, 2026). "Portland man shot by Border Patrol pleads not guilty to assaulting agent". The Guardian. Retrieved January 14, 2026.
  29. ^ Levin, Sam (February 2, 2026). "DHS's account of two Venezuelans shot by border patrol falls apart in court: 'A smear campaign'". The Guardian. Retrieved February 3, 2026.
  30. ^ Seibold, Hannah (January 8, 2026). "UPDATE: Federal agents shoot, injure 2 in East Portland". Portland Tribune. Archived from the original on January 9, 2026. Retrieved January 8, 2026.
  31. ^ "Portland Mayor Issues Statement Following Hazelwood Neighborhood Shooting". www.portland.gov. January 8, 2026. Archived from the original on January 9, 2026. Retrieved January 9, 2026.
  32. ^ a b Bond, Jill (January 9, 2025). "Oregon leaders weigh in on shooting of Portland couple". The Eugene Register-Guard. Retrieved January 9, 2025.
  33. ^ "Portland council member reacts to shooting involving federal agents". NBC News. Archived from the original on January 9, 2026. Retrieved January 9, 2026.
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