Oregon town‑hall: senators detail ICE custody and urge review after shooting near Emanuel Hospital
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Summary
Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden addressed constituent concerns about a shooting involving ICE agents near Emanuel Hospital, confirming two people were shot, both left the hospital, and one is in ICE/CBP custody while Oregon's attorney general is investigating.
At a virtual town hall, U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden provided details about a recent shooting near Emanuel Hospital that involved federal immigration officials and civilian occupants.
A constituent asked how the people shot by ICE were doing. Merkley said the driver, Luis Nino Moncada, was shot through the arm and is in custody with Immigration and Customs Enforcement or Customs and Border Protection. He said the passenger, identified as Yolenez Zambrano Contreras, was shot through the chest, recovered and was released on her own recognizance but has a court date related to her immigration documentation. Wyden said Oregon Attorney General Rayfield is looking into the circumstances surrounding the shooting.
Merkley expressed distrust of the administration’s initial public descriptions of similar incidents, citing Minnesota footage from an earlier case that contradicted official accounts, and said Oregon lacks comparable video for the Emanuel Hospital incident. He said, "we cannot trust the administration to fairly describe what took place." Wyden emphasized the importance of the Rayfield inquiry.
Why it matters: The exchange underscores constituent concern about federal immigration enforcement practices and local legal review. The senators pledged continued oversight and support for state investigative efforts.
Next steps: The senators said the state attorney general’s office is investigating and their offices will continue to monitor developments. No formal federal action or charge information was provided during the town hall.