Oregon Congresswoman Maxine Dexter recently found herself in the hot seat during a press confrontation over a statement she made regarding a shooting incident involving a Border Patrol agent in Portland. The incident involved two individuals suspected of gang affiliations.

The Democratic representative’s statement seemed to draw a parallel between the January 8 shooting and a separate incident the previous day in which ICE officer Jonathan Ross fatally shot Renee Good.

However, the Department of Homeland Security clarified that the agent involved in the Portland case was actually part of the Border Patrol, not ICE. The agency reported that the agent acted in self-defense after the suspects allegedly rammed a law enforcement vehicle.

Both DHS and the Portland Police Department identified the suspects, Luis David Nino-Moncada and Yorlenys Betzabeth Zambrano-Contreras, as being linked to Tren De Aragua, a notorious Venezuelan gang known for its involvement in drug trafficking, prostitution, and murders across the U.S.

On Tuesday, Fox News reporter Bill Melugin challenged the congresswoman on Capitol Hill, questioning her decision to speak prematurely on the matter.

‘Why didn’t you wait for any facts to come out on the Portland Border Patrol shooting before you put your statement out?’ Melugin asked.

‘I did not make a statement about the -‘ she started to say.

‘You did,’ Melugin interrupted. ‘It’s on Twitter.’

‘No I made a statement. I did not say anything about whether or not those folks were rightfully -‘

Congresswoman Maxine Dexter, a Democrat of Oregon, answers questions about the January 8 Border Patrol shooting in Portland. Dexter put out a statement before authorities tied the people who were shot to Tren de Aragua, a Venezuelan gang

Luis David Nino-Moncada (left) was driving the car that allegedly rammed a Border Patrol vehicle. Yorlenys Betzabeth Zambrano-Contreras was in the passenger seat, per court records. Both illegal immigrants were eligible for arrest and deportation, according to authorities

Melugin cut her off again, pointing out that she said in her statement that ICE was terrorizing the community, despite the shooting involving Border Patrol agents. 

Her full statement mentioned President Donald Trump twice and demanded ‘full accountability and transparency’. 

‘Just one day after the horrific murder in Minneapolis,’ Dexter said, ‘I received reports that two people in my district were shot by federal immigration officials this afternoon in East Portland. Both individuals are alive, but we do not know the extent of their injuries.’ 

‘ICE has done nothing but inject terror, chaos, and cruelty into our communities. Trump’s immigration machine is using violence to control our communities – straight out of the authoritarian playbook. ICE must immediately end all active operations in Portland,’ she continued.

‘I will share more updates as they become available. I am demanding full accountability and transparency. I encourage our community to stay calm and show courage in this moment. We must allow our local law enforcement to do its work. There must be a comprehensive investigation without Trump’s interference,’ Dexter’s statement concluded.

In her interaction with Melugin, the Fox reporter, Dexter argued that Nino-Moncada and Zambrano-Contreras were not afforded their right to due process.

According to court records, Nino-Moncada had been served a final order of removal by a Colorado immigration judge in November 2024, while Zambrano-Contreras was eligible to be arrested after entering the country illegally in September 2023.

Nino-Moncada was accused of frequently transporting Zambrano-Contreras around Portland so she could engage in prostitution, according to an FBI affidavit.

Pictured: The red Toyota Tacoma that was allegedly used by Nino-Moncada to ram a Border Patrol vehicle before fleeing the scene

Pictured: The damage to the Border Patrol vehicle that was repeatedly backed into by Nino-Moncada, according to the FBI

This alleged prostitution ring, which involved two other unnamed males, was discovered by local police in July after there was a shooting at a hotel where Zambrano-Contreras had allegedly got into a disagreement with customers, according to court documents.

Months later, on the afternoon of January 8, Border Patrol agents came across a red Toyota Tacoma being driven by Nino-Moncada. Zambrano-Contreras was in the passenger seat, according to the FBI.

After they initiated a traffic stop, Nino-Moncada allegedly reversed into a Border Patrol vehicle several times. Eventually, a Border Patrol agent fired into Nino-Moncada’s truck.

After the shooting, court records indicate Nino-Moncada fled the scene and that Border Patrol agents did not follow them. At this point, Nino-Moncada had been shot in the arm, while Zambrano-Contreras had been hit in the chest.

Out of necessity, Nino-Moncada called 911 to get medical assistance for him and Zambrano-Contreras.

Once at the hospital, both of them were arrested and interviewed by FBI agents. According to the FBI affidavit, Nino-Moncada repeatedly said ‘f*** ICE’ and admitted he rammed the immigration enforcement vehicles in an attempt to escape.