As the end of June approaches and the heat rises to 90 degrees or more, a chill has fallen over Washington County and the greater Hillsboro, Oregon area. ICE has brought on that chill, and if Donald Trump continues to have his way, it will be an Arctic winter before it is over. Stores, shops, and restaurants along Calle Diez (10th Avenue) have suffered significant business losses . And that story is true across Washington County and beyond. Wherever people gather, shop, or recreate, who are of foreign descent, of color, or not white, there is reason to worry. ICE is especially targeting residents who are Mexican/LatinX – we all see it on the news and social media, and you know what I mean. 25.9% of Hillsboro’s residents identify as Hispanic or Latino, which represents 28,000 people right here in our City, who could be profiled and targeted- and they are feeling it.
Imagine the fear of not being able to leave your house or go to work for fear of being grabbed and never seeing your family again. My good friend owns a restaurant here in Hillsboro. He has tried for years to gain his citizenship, which was hard enough before 47 took office. He is legally here now, his children were born here, and his wife is a citizen. But that means very little right now. He is currently in a state of constant fear. He has a few of us on speed dial and is just hoping that if ICE comes, someone will try to help him. He knows his rights, what they mean, but he does not know. He is scared, and I am afraid for him. This is what happened in Germany with Jewish citizens: first, the fear, then the hiding, then the complete elimination. Germans stood and watched- and this is where we are at. We must not be bystanders.
Hillsboro City Councilor Olivia Alcaire has been actively working on these issues. Last week, she took to social media and, out of concern for the real situations we are in, made a bold statement that you should all internalize.
As your Hillsboro City Councilor, I want to share that I. no longer support large city-sponsored gatherings where residents of our immigrant communities can be at risk of detainment by ICE. I believe in the constitutional rights of our immigrant community, los jornaleros en particular. I take my role as a councilor seriously. I don’t encourage anyone to take a risk greater than myself to attend city sponsored events. I care about the safety of our most vulnerable community members more than who I am.…