'Smear Campaign' Detected as DHS Claims About Pair Shot by Border Patrol Unravel in Court

"After a US Border Patrol Agent shot two Venezuelan immigrants in Portland, Oregon in January, the Department of Homeland Security claimed that the two victims were 'vicious Tren de Aragua gang members' who 'weaponized their vehicle' against federal agents, who had no choice but to open fire in self-defense."

"However, court records obtained by the Guardian reveal that a Department of Justice prosecutor subsequently told a judge the government was 'not suggesting' that one of the victims, Luis Niño-Moncada, was a gang member."

"The Guardian also obtained an FBI affidavit contradicting DHS claims about the second victim, Yorlenys Zambrano-Contreras, being 'involved' in a shooting in Portland last year, when in reality she was a 'reported victim of sexual assault and robbery.' "

"Attorneys representing Niño-Moncada and Zambrano-Contreras, who both survived the shooting and were subsequently hospitalized, told the Guardian that neither of them have any prior criminal convictions."

"Legal experts who spoke with the Guardian about the shooting said it appeared that DHS was waging a 'smear campaign" against the victims."

Continued at link:

https://www.commondreams.org/news/border-patrol-portland-shooting