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Tackling community issues. Celebrating local voices.
The recent U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detainment of a respected vineyard management business owner in Newberg has spread fear among Oregon’s vineyard workers and sparked concerns among winemakers in the Willamette Valley and statewide.
“We’ve seen a handful of ICE detentions, and that’s putting it nicely, in our community so far, all wrapped around the wine industry,” said Bubba King, a Yamhill County Commissioner. “If you are in that vineyard management, farm worker, primarily Latino community, you’re very afraid.”
Moises Sotelo, who ran a vineyard management business called Novo Start Vineyard Service, was detained in the early morning hours of June 12 on his way to work, according to a GoFundMe appeal organized by one of his children, Alondra Garcia. As of the afternoon of June 26, it has raised $138,938 out of a $175,000 goal from more than 2,000 donations…