Federal Agents Shoot Two in Portland, Oregon, Amid Tensions Over Immigration Enforcement

Federal Agents Involved in Portland Shooting

Two individuals were shot and wounded by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents in Portland, Oregon, on Thursday, January 8, 2026. The incident, which occurred near Adventist Health Portland in the city's Hazelwood neighborhood, has escalated tensions surrounding federal immigration enforcement. The shooting took place a day after a fatal incident in Minneapolis, Minnesota, where an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officer shot and killed Renee Good.

Details of the Incident and Official Accounts

According to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), CBP agents were conducting a 'targeted vehicle stop' when the shooting occurred. DHS stated that the passenger of the vehicle was allegedly affiliated with a 'transnational Tren de Aragua prostitution ring' and had been involved in a recent shooting in Portland. DHS further claimed that the driver 'weaponized his vehicle' and attempted to run over the agents, prompting an agent to fire a 'defensive shot.' The two wounded individuals, later identified by DHS as Luis David Nico Moncada and Yorlenys Betzabeth Zambrano-Contreras, both from Venezuela, were transported to a hospital. Their conditions were not immediately known.

The Portland Police Bureau initially responded to reports of a shooting around 2:18 p.m. local time near the hospital. Minutes later, officers located the man and woman with gunshot wounds approximately three miles away, near Northeast 146th Avenue and East Burnside, after receiving a call for help. The FBI's Portland office is leading the investigation into the agent-involved shooting.

Local Response and Broader Context

Portland Police Chief Bob Day noted that local authorities had not confirmed the specific federal agency involved or if the incident was immigration-related. Portland Mayor Keith Wilson and the city council have called for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to halt all operations in the city until a full investigation is completed, expressing skepticism regarding the federal government's account. The shooting quickly led to protests outside the ICE facility in downtown Portland, with hundreds gathering to voice their opposition to immigration enforcement actions. This event further intensifies the long-standing tensions between federal authorities and the city of Portland, which identifies as a 'sanctuary city' and has previously seen significant protests against federal presence.