Somali state senator tells ICE to ‘get the hell out' of Oregon

Somali-born Oregon state Senate senator Kayse Jama criticized federal immigration enforcement officers Thursday night following a federal agent’s shooting of two people in Portland, telling them they were not welcome in the community.

Speaking at a news conference alongside Portland’s mayor and other state and local leaders, Jama, a Somali‑born refugee and Oregon Democrat, addressed federal agencies, including US Immigration and Customs Enforcement, saying, “This is Oregon. We do not need you. You’re not welcome. And you need to get the hell out of our community.”

The remarks came amid fallout from a Thursday afternoon incident in which federal Customs and Border Protection agents shot and wounded two people in Portland during a vehicle stop. The Department of Homeland Security said the driver “weaponized his vehicle” and attempted to run over agents, prompting an agent to fire in self‑defense. Both people were hospitalized and later taken into federal custody.

DHS identified the two individuals as Venezuelan nationals with alleged ties to the notorious Tren de Aragua gang.

“The driver of the vehicle, Luis David Nico Moncada is a criminal illegal alien from Venezuela and suspected Tren de Aragua gang member. He illegally entered the U.S. in 2022 and was RELEASED into the country by the Biden administration. Since then, he was arrested for DUI and unauthorized use of a vehicle. He has a final order of removal,” DHS posted on X. “The passenger, Yorlenys Betzabeth Zambrano-Contreras is a criminal illegal alien from Venezuela and is associated with Tren de Aragua. She illegally entered the U.S. in 2023 near El Paso, Texas, and was RELEASED into this country by the Biden administration. Since illegally entering, Contreras played an active role in a Tren de Aragua prostitution ring and was involved with a prior shooting in Portland.”

Despite this, Portland Mayor Keith Wilson joined calls for a pause in federal immigration enforcement operations in the city, urging ICE to halt activities while investigations proceed. Wilson also referenced national tensions following a similar federal agent‑involved shooting in Minneapolis earlier in the week. “This is a moment to hold each other close,” Wilson said.

Oregon Governor Tina Kotek called for a “full, comprehensive” investigation into the Portland shooting, saying state officials would work to determine whether federal officers acted appropriately.