On Thursday, a Border Patrol agent shot two individuals in Portland, Oregon, following a traffic stop. The Department of Homeland Security stated the agent acted in self-defense after the driver attempted to use the vehicle as a weapon. The driver, Luis David Nino-Moncada, has been charged with aggravated assault of a federal officer, and authorities allege both individuals are associated with the Tren de Aragua gang. The incident sparked immediate backlash from local officials, with the Oregon Attorney General launching an investigation, and calls for federal agencies to cease operations in the city. The FBI is leading the investigation with assistance from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
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A Border Patrol agent in Portland shot and wounded two individuals, identified as suspected members of the Tren de Aragua gang. The Department of Homeland Security stated the shooting occurred during a targeted vehicle stop when the driver attempted to run over the agent. The driver and passenger, both Venezuelan citizens, are in federal custody and are suspected of being involved in criminal activities. Local officials and the Oregon Attorney General are investigating the incident, while protests and tensions have risen in response to the shooting.
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The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) identified two individuals shot in Portland, Oregon, as suspected associates of the Tren de Aragua gang, alleging the shooting occurred after a driver “weaponized their vehicle” against a Border Patrol agent. The driver, Luis David Nico Moncada, and passenger, Yorlenys Betzabeth Zambrano-Contreras, were identified as “criminal illegal aliens from Venezuela” who had entered the U.S. in 2022 and 2023 respectively. DHS further claimed Moncada had a DUI and vehicle misuse arrest and that Contreras was involved in a prostitution ring and a prior shooting. Local leaders and officials, including the Oregon Governor and Portland Mayor, have called for investigations, transparency, and accountability regarding the shooting.
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A multiagency raid on a Chicago apartment building resulted in the arrest of 37 undocumented immigrants, primarily from Venezuela, as part of “Operation Midway Blitz”. The operation targeted the building due to its association with the Tren de Aragua gang and those arrested included individuals with criminal histories. Residents reported being detained regardless of their immigration status, including U.S. citizens. The raid, which involved Black Hawk helicopters and military-style vehicles, prompted condemnation from Illinois Governor JB Pritzker who cited the violation of due process rights.
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The U.S. military destroyed a suspected drug-trafficking boat last week, with sources claiming it appeared to be turning around before the attack. The Trump administration asserts the vessel, originating from Venezuela, was operated by the Tren de Aragua gang, a designated terrorist organization. However, Venezuelan officials deny gang involvement and dispute the U.S. claims. The White House maintains the President acted within his constitutional authority and will continue to take action against drug traffickers.
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Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth asserted the U.S. possessed “absolute and complete authority” to kill suspected drug smugglers, citing the defense of the American people as justification for a recent airstrike against a Venezuelan boat in international waters. The strike, ordered by President Trump, targeted individuals allegedly affiliated with the Tren de Aragua crime group and transporting narcotics to the U.S., resulting in the deaths of eleven “narcoterrorists”. The incident has sparked controversy, with Venezuela and others questioning the authenticity of the strike video and the legal grounds for the action.
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In a recent operation, President Trump announced a U.S. military strike in the southern Caribbean against a vessel transporting narcotics and linked to the Tren de Aragua gang, resulting in the deaths of eleven individuals. The video provided, showing the vessel’s explosion, has been met with skepticism by Venezuelan officials who have questioned its authenticity. The strike comes as the U.S. increases its maritime presence near Venezuela to combat drug cartels, which has led to heightened tensions. The Venezuelan government has responded by deploying troops and accusing the U.S. of fabricating a narrative to undermine the current administration.
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Leaked emails reveal that Tulsi Gabbard’s chief of staff, Joe Kent, pressured intelligence officials to revise a report on the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua to align with President Trump’s statements on immigration. Kent sought to downplay the report’s findings contradicting Trump’s claim of Venezuelan government collusion with the gang, despite the National Intelligence Council’s conclusion that such collaboration was improbable. Subsequently, Gabbard fired two top intelligence officials following the report’s release and subsequent media coverage highlighting the discrepancies. This action prompted accusations of retaliation for producing analysis that contradicted the President’s political agenda.
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A declassified intelligence memo confirms that U.S. intelligence agencies contradicted President Trump’s claim linking Venezuelan President Maduro to the criminal gang Tren de Aragua, a claim used to justify deporting Venezuelan migrants to a Salvadoran prison. The memo revealed that while Venezuela’s environment enables the gang’s operations, there’s no evidence of direct Maduro control or policy of cooperation. This contradicts Trump’s assertion, prompting a Justice Department investigation into the leak of allegedly inaccurate information. The memo’s release highlights the discrepancy between the administration’s justification and intelligence findings, underscoring the importance of transparency in government actions.
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Former New Mexico Magistrate Judge Jose Luis “Joel” Cano and his wife, Nancy, were arrested on charges related to evidence tampering. Joel Cano allegedly destroyed a tenant’s phone, fearing incriminating photos and videos connected to the tenant’s suspected affiliation with the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua. The tenant, Cristhian Ortega-Lopez, faces firearms charges. Nancy Cano is accused of attempting to delete Ortega-Lopez’s social media accounts. This case mirrors a similar incident involving a Milwaukee judge accused of aiding an illegal immigrant’s escape from authorities.
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John Q. Hosedrinker