Yorlenys Betzabeth Zambrano-Contreras, a 32-year-old woman shot by a Border Patrol agent in Portland, made a virtual court appearance on Friday. The hearing took place from the Northwest Immigration and Customs Enforcement Processing Center in Tacoma, where she is currently detained. Her appearance was related to allegations of illegally entering the United States in 2023.
Border Patrol Incident Overview
The incident occurred on January 8, when Zambrano-Contreras was in a Toyota Tacoma truck pursued by six Border Patrol agents in unmarked vehicles. The agents followed the truck into the parking lot of an Adventist Health medical office building around 2 p.m. During this pursuit, an agent shot into the vehicle, striking Zambrano-Contreras and the driver, 33-year-old Luis David Nino-Moncada.
According to U.S. Homeland Security officials, the shooting occurred when Nino-Moncada allegedly reversed the truck, hitting an unoccupied federal rental vehicle multiple times before fleeing the scene. Following the shooting, Nino-Moncada drove approximately three miles to The Bria Apartments, where he called 911 at 2:24 p.m. to report the incident.
Court Appearance Details
During her initial court appearance, Zambrano-Contreras was connected via video to the courtroom in downtown Portland. Dressed in pink scrubs, she listened to a Spanish interpreter via cellphone. Her attorney, Conor Huseby, requested her virtual presence due to medical concerns related to her recent surgery.
- Judge: U.S. Magistrate Judge Stacie F. Beckerman
- Rights read to Zambrano-Contreras; she acknowledged but did not speak further.
No date has been determined for her next court appearance, either in Portland or Texas. Federal prosecutors currently allege she entered the U.S. illegally following the shooting.
Legal Consequences and Additional Allegations
The maximum penalty for the illegal entry charge is six months in prison and a potential fine of $5,000. Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas Edmonds emphasized this during the hearing.
Homeland Security has indicated that Zambrano-Contreras was specifically targeted during the incident, purportedly linked to a prostitution ring associated with the violent Venezuelan Tren de Aragua gang. She has not been charged with any offenses related to these allegations.
Status of Co-Defendant
Nino-Moncada remains in custody, facing charges for allegedly assaulting a federal officer and causing damage to government property. The circumstances surrounding both individuals’ legal situations continue to develop as investigations proceed.
Conclusion
As the case unfolds, it highlights the complex issues surrounding immigration, law enforcement actions, and the judicial process. Zambrano-Contreras’s next steps in court will be closely monitored as her situation progresses.
