A Southwest Washington nonprofit has been left scrambling after its annual North Portland fundraiser—a Taco, Tequila & Tamale Festival—saw attendance slashed by half from its 2025 numbers due to fears of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers.
Latino Leadership Northwest is a Vancouver-based nonprofit organization that serves Latino youth. In 2025, the group’s inaugural taco festival fundraiser brought in 3,000 people to the Portland Expo Center to enjoy food vendors, lucha libre wrestling, Latin dance, crafts and more. About 10 high school dance programs from Southwest Washington, Portland and Woodburn performed.
“The event was so successful that we ran out of food way before 6 pm, if that gives you a sense,” says Diana Avalos-Leos, LLNW’s founder and executive director…