In brief
In a case that has garnered significant attention, Yorlenys Zambrano-Contreras appeared via video link in a federal court in Portland after being shot by a Border Patrol agent during an immigration stop. She has been sentenced to one year of probation following her guilty plea for illegally entering the United States. The incident and subsequent prosecution have sparked debates about immigration policies and agent conduct. Meanwhile, her co-defendant, Luis Nino-Moncada, remains in custody and has been indicted on charges related to the incident, with a trial set for March.
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — A woman who was shot and wounded by a Border Patrol agent during a recent immigration stop in Portland, Oregon, pleaded guilty Thursday to illegally entering the U.S. and was sentenced to one year of probation.
Yorlenys Zambrano-Contreras appeared by video from an immigration detention facility in Tacoma, Washington, for the federal court hearing in Portland, The Oregonian/OregonLive reported. She won’t face time in prison but will have location monitoring and certain nighttime curfew requirements during probation. She will be able to remain out of custody in Oregon under the negotiated resolution of the case, the news outlet reported.
The case was initially filed in Texas, where she was accused of illegally entering the U.S., but she waived her right to appear there for prosecution, the outlet reported.
The shooting on Jan. 8, one day after a federal agent shot and killed a driver in Minneapolis, prompted protests over agents’ aggressive tactics during immigration enforcement operations.
According to court filings, the agent opened fire after Nino-Moncada put the truck in reverse and repeatedly slammed into an unoccupied car Border Patrol agents had rented. The truck struck the agent, and he fired two rounds out of fear for his life.
Nino-Moncada has been indicted on charges of aggravated assault on a federal employee and damaging federal property, and he remains in custody, with a jury trial scheduled for March.
The Department of Homeland Security stated that both Zambrano-Contreras and Nino-Moncada entered the U.S. illegally, and they are affiliated with the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua.
Portland Police Chief Bob Day confirmed their nexus to the gang, highlighting that the two were flagged during an investigation related to a July shooting but were not identified as suspects. Zambrano-Contreras was previously arrested for prostitution.
On Thursday, U.S. Magistrate Judge Stacie Beckerman also ordered Zambrano-Contreras to stay away from areas known for prostitution.