Woman Wounded in Border Patrol Shooting Sentenced for Illegal US Entry
A woman who was shot and injured by a Border Patrol agent during an immigration enforcement operation in Portland, Oregon, has been sentenced after pleading guilty to illegally entering the United States. Yorlenys Zambrano-Contreras received a sentence of one year of probation during a federal court hearing held on Thursday.
Court Appearance and Sentencing Details
Zambrano-Contreras appeared via video link from an immigration detention facility located in Tacoma, Washington, for the proceedings in Portland's federal court. According to reports from The Oregonian/OregonLive, she will not serve any prison time as part of the negotiated resolution of her case.
Her probation conditions include location monitoring and specific nighttime curfew requirements. Under the terms of the agreement, she will be permitted to remain out of custody in Oregon while serving her sentence.
Background of the Case and Shooting Incident
The original charges were filed in Texas, where Zambrano-Contreras was accused of illegal entry into the country. She waived her right to appear in Texas for prosecution, leading to the case being addressed in Oregon.
The shooting occurred on January 8th in a medical complex parking lot in Portland. This incident took place just one day after a federal agent shot and killed a driver in Minneapolis, sparking protests over aggressive tactics used during immigration enforcement operations.
According to court filings, the Border Patrol agent opened fire after Luis Nino-Moncada, who was in a pickup truck with Zambrano-Contreras, put the vehicle in reverse and repeatedly struck an unoccupied rental car used by Border Patrol agents. The impact damaged the car's headlights and knocked off its front bumper.
The filings state that the truck struck the agent, who then fired two rounds out of fear for his life. The FBI has indicated that no surveillance or other video footage of the shooting has been found.
Gang Affiliations and Additional Legal Proceedings
The Department of Homeland Security has revealed that both Zambrano-Contreras and Nino-Moncada entered the United States illegally in 2023 and 2022 respectively. Both individuals were identified as having affiliations with the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua.
Portland Police Chief Bob Day confirmed that the pair had "some nexus" to the gang, though they were not identified as suspects in a July shooting investigation believed to have been carried out by gang members.
Day also disclosed that Zambrano-Contreras had previously been arrested for prostitution, with Nino-Moncada present during the execution of a search warrant in that case. As part of her sentencing, U.S. Magistrate Judge Stacie Beckerman ordered Zambrano-Contreras to avoid areas where prostitution occurs.
Co-Defendant's Status and Ongoing Case
Luis Nino-Moncada faces more serious charges, including aggravated assault on a federal employee and damaging federal property. He has pleaded not guilty to these charges and remains in custody awaiting a jury trial scheduled for March.
The case continues to highlight tensions surrounding immigration enforcement methods while addressing the legal consequences for those who enter the country without authorization.
