Conrad Wilson

Over this past weekend, the use of force appeared to escalate after federal officers fired tear gas at protesters, which also hit children and elderly people.

For NPR News, I'm Conrad Wilson in Portland.

Thousands turned out for a union-backed rally against increased immigration enforcement.

Federal officers responding to some protesters who had gathered onto the driveway of the ICE facility blocking a security gate deployed tear gas.

That tear gas drifted through the air into a much larger crowd of demonstrators made up of families, including children and elderly people.

Portland Mayor Keith Wilson condemned federal officers' actions, saying they had deployed heavy waves of chemical munitions on peaceful protesters who did not pose a threat.

The incident comes as a federal judge is set to take up a lawsuit filed by the ACLU of Oregon, arguing federal law enforcement has used excessive force on peaceful protesters.

For NPR News, I'm Conrad Wilson in Portland.

The U.S.

Department of Justice charged Luis Nino Moncada for aggravated assault on a federal officer with a deadly or dangerous weapon and depredation of federal property.

According to a charging document filed in court by the FBI, the immigration agents feared they could be hit by the truck he was driving.

One agent fired two shots into the driver's side window.

Yolanas Zambrano Contreras, the passenger in the vehicle, was also wounded.

Court records show she was the target of the immigration operation.

She's charged with illegal entry.

The Department of Homeland Security says the two are connected to a Venezuelan gang.

Court documents show the FBI has not found video of the incident.

For NPR News, I'm Conrad Wilson in Portland.

The U.S.

Department of Homeland Security says the two people shot in Portland were suspected Tren de Agua gang associates who were stopped by federal immigration officers.