Alleged Tren de Aragua affiliate charged after Border Patrol taking pictures in Oregon

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The alleged Venezuelan illegal immigrant , suspected of being an affiliate of the Tren de Aragua gang, who was shot by U.S. Border Patrol brokers in Portland, Oregon whereas allegedly attempting to ram them with a car was charged Monday by the Justice Division.

Luis Nino Moncada is charged with aggravated assault of a federal officer with a lethal weapon, based on an unsealed federal criticism.

"Anybody who crosses the purple line of assaulting legislation enforcement shall be met with the total drive of this Justice Division," Legal professional Basic Pam Bondi wrote on X. "In line with a newly unsealed criticism, Luis Nino-Moncada — an unlawful alien in Portland, Oregon with ties to Tren de Aragua — is alleged to have repeatedly rammed a Border Patrol car, threatening the lives of federal legislation enforcement officers."

ANTI-ICE AGITATORS THREATEN AGENTS IN CHAOTIC MINNESOTA PROTESTS: ‘YOU'RE GOING TO F---ING DIE'

DHS officers say Luis David Nico Moncada, left, and Yorlenys Betzabeth Zambrano-Contreras, are Venezuelan prison unlawful aliens and suspected members of the international terrorist group Tren de Aragua. The duo had been wounded after being shot by a Border Patrol agent Thursday, Jan. 8, 2026, once they allegedly tried to run the officer and others over with their car. (Division of Homeland Safety)

"He ought to NEVER have been in our nation to start with, and we'll guarantee he NEVER walks free in America once more," she added.

Federal prosecutors allege that Moncada and Yorlenys Betzabeth Zambrano-Contreras, each suspected TdA gang associates, had been in a Toyota Tacoma on Jan. 8 when USBP brokers tried to conduct a visitors cease.

The brokers had been concentrating on Zambrano-Contreras for arrest.

Moncada, who was driving the car, entered the USA illegally in 2022, and was launched into the nation by the Biden administration. He has a earlier arrest for driving below the affect and unauthorized use of a car, authorities stated, and was the topic of a remaining order of removal .

Zambrano-Contreras, the passenger, additionally entered the U.S. illegally within the El Paso, Texas , space in 2023. She performed an "energetic position in a Tren de Aragua prostitution ring" and was beforehand concerned in a July 2025 taking pictures stemming from a foul prostitution deal , authorities stated.

On the time of the visitors cease, federal brokers ordered them to exit the car, which they refused, prosecutors stated.

TWO WOUNDED IN PORTLAND, OREGON, SHOOTING INVOLVING FEDERAL AGENTS: CITY

A broken Border Patrol car that was struck by Luis Moncada throughout an tried arrest, authorities stated. (Justice Division)

As an alternative, Moncada put the automobile in reverse and hit an unoccupied Border Patrol car "with sufficient pace and drive to trigger vital harm," the criticism states. He then allegedly moved the automobile ahead and reverse a number of occasions, hanging the USBP car a number of occasions, prosecutors stated.

Fearing that Moncada would strike the brokers, a Border Patrol agent opened hearth at Moncada earlier than he drove off and fled the scene, prosecutors allege. He and Zambrano-Contreras had been struck by gunfire.

Moncada allegedly parked the automobile in an condominium complicated and referred to as 911. When responding law enforcement officers arrived and positioned a tourniquet on him, he allegedly stated f--- ICE."

Luis Moncada is accused of attempting to ram his car right into a black U.S. Border Patrol automobile throughout an tried arrest in Portland. (Justice Division )

Each he and Zambrano-Contreras had been taken to hospitals with gunshot wounds, authorities stated.

Throughout questioning, Moncada allegedly admitted to deliberately ramming his automobile into the Border Patrol car in an try to flee.

JUSTICE DEPARTMENT UNSEALS MULTI-STATE INDICTMENTS AGAINST TREN DE ARAGUA LEADERS FOR VIOLENT CRIMES

Police in riot gear face protesters outdoors an Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility Thursday night time, Jan. 8, 2026, in Portland, Oregon, as demonstrations erupted hours after a taking pictures involving a federal immigration agent. (AP Picture/Jenny Kane)

There was no body-worn digital camera footage from the six Border Patrol brokers concerned within the incident, the Justice Division stated. Efforts to search out footage of what occurred on social media and thru surveillance cameras have been unsuccessful.

The taking pictures occurred the identical week anti-ICE protester Renee Nicole Good was fatally shot in Minneapolis by a federal agent whereas attempting to allegedly ram him along with his car.

The Trump administration has stated Good was obstructing immigration enforcement operations and tried to run over an ICE agent who fired in self-defense. Good was pronounced lifeless on the scene.

Oregon officers condemned the taking pictures in Portland, with Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek, a Democrat, claiming it was "instigated by the reckless agenda of the Trump administration."