Tampa, FL – On a Sunday evening, November 1, activists with the Tampa Immigrants’ Rights Committee held a Dia de los Muertos celebration to honor the people killed by ICE and commit to the fight for those currently in detention and living under ICE terror.

The event was attended by about a dozen people, as well as more who passed by and joined in. Organizers set up an ofrenda with the names of those ICE has killed, as well as chalkboards to allow for folks to write in the names of those they would like to honor, which included recently-passed Community Service Organization and United Farm Worker organizer Dolores Huerta.

The mood was somber and defiant as speakers connected the holiday with Tampa’s collaboration with ICE in the form of the 287(g) agreement, which allows local law enforcement to act as immigration enforcement and notify ICE when an undocumented person is arrested. The Tampa Police Department has signed on to this agreement since 2025 and has taken at least $430,000 to train their officers for immigration enforcement.

Tampa IRC member Nico Baisley stated, “We’re here to remember the dead and fight for the living. We’re here to remember the people who died in the horrid, inhuman conditions inside for-profit detention centers. People like Emiliano Andrade-Covarrubias, a green card holder from Mexico, with several pre-existing medical conditions, who was found dead in the Rio Grande Processing Center in Laredo.”

Lizette Chavez, daughter of Adelaido Chavez, the Seffner man arrested and brutalized by Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office deputies before being handed over to ICE and taken to Baker Correctional Institute, spoke about the horrible conditions there before her father was released.

Chavez stated, “No AC during hot summer months, where it almost reached 100 degrees at times. My father dealt with a lack of hygiene related items, like bars of soap, simply to be able to shower.” Chavez also emphasized the need to continue organizing for people who are still detained.

The event raised demands for ICE to get out of Tampa, for Tampa to end its collaboration with ICE, and for justice for those killed by ICE, CPB and DHS. Several attendees spoke later with the organizers about getting more involved in the fight.

#TampaFL #FL #ImmigrantRights #ICE #DiaDeLosMuertos

Minneapolis, MN – Over 100 people gathered for a celebration of Día de los Muertos on Sunday, November 1. The event is hosted annually by El Colegio High School and Danza Ketzal Coatlicue and supported by the Minnesota Immigrant Rights Action Committee (MIRAC).

This year the event included dance performances, a display of altars created by the hosting organizations and community members, and food. The main altar honored those who were killed at the hands of ICE since Trump started his second term. The altar had 108 candles, one for each person killed, each with their name and photograph.

The program began with a procession led by a banner that read: “7 days since ICE murdered – that we know of,” followed by the danza group at the front and community members following. The procession ended at the high school with a dance performance outside. The community was then invited inside to see the altars and enjoy food, community and a few speakers.

MIRAC member Mari Mansfield spoke at the event, “ICE’s reign of terror is so relentless that by the time we finished making the candles, ICE had killed again! 108 candles lit for the people killed by ICE – these candles also symbolize the passion and resistance that burns within us, because all the 108 people were a light in this world and we cannot rest until they get justice!”

Mansfield also highlighted MIRAC’s current campaign to make Minnesota a sanctuary state and the immigrant rights movement’s continued fight against ICE terror.

#MinneapolisMN #MN #ImmigrantRights #ICE #MIRAC #DiaDeLosMuertos #OppressedNationalities #Featured

Los Angeles, CA – On November 1, Centro CSO members handed out know your rights leaflets during a Dia De Los Muertos Cultural event at Belvedere Park Lake. There have been many ICE kidnappings at Belvedere Park Lake in the past couple months.

On the morning of November 1, an unmarked car with two ICE agents was forced to leave after being confronted by Chicanos who spotted the agents parked in the middle of an LA County public parking lot.

The Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna now confirms that multiple people have been taken by ICE after being released from the jail at East Los Angeles Sheriff's Station. The masked ICE agents have been seen parked directly in front of the sheriff's station, lying in wait. Many videos have shown ICE agents chasing people through the park, terrorizing the surrounding residents of East LA.

This escalated activity comes during ICE surge “Operation Safe California” which began in San Diego on October 1.

Verita Topete, co-chair of Centro CSO’s immigration committee, stated, “We’re living under constant repression from ICE, and we can’t afford to sit back when our community needs us. This is when we need to show up for our people.”

During the barrio walk, the LA sheriffs came out of the station and put up a perimeter with yellow tape and parked their cars up front, basically closing the station to the public.

Mayra Plascenia of Centro CSO stated, “Protecting our barrio is not a crime, it's a must here in East LA. The East LA sheriff's station can't protect us, but they're protecting ICE! ”

The attendees of the Dia De Los Muertos event were receptive and the organizers of the event thanked Centro CSO for being there providing Know Your Rights information and an extra layer of security against ICE.

#LosAngelesCA #CA #ImmigrantRights #ICE #CentroCSO

Detroit, MI – On October 28, 20 Wayne State University students and members of Students for a Democratic Society at Wayne State met for a study-in outside Wayne State Dean of Students David Strauss’s office to defend student visas and green cards in the wake of Wayne State's revocation of at least 12 students’ visas in spring 2025.

Students sat outside the office with signs reading “Defend student visas” and “Protect international students,” demanding that the Wayne State University administration stop the collaboration with ICE and the Trump administration, by creating real policies that protect international students.

Wayne State University administration has revoked at least 12 student visas as of April 2025, forcing them to self-deport under threat by the university of ICE violence if refused. Since then, student groups such as Students for a Democratic Society at Wayne State University have pushed for sanctuary campus policies and a defense of student visas. However, Wayne State’s administration so far has refused to address these concerns.

Wayne State students organized the study-in to make it clear to the Wayne State administration that the student body cannot be ignored, and that real change on campus is needed.

Around an hour into the study-in, Dean of Students David Strauss finally acknowledged students, asking if they wanted a university sign moved from the hallway, instead of addressing students' concerns over the 12 deported students.

Kimberly Perry, a Wayne State University student and member of Students for a Democratic Society, told the dean, “We’d rather talk about the 12 students that got deported than the sign in the hallway.”

Dean Strauss responded by saying that participants in the action should talk to the student newspaper about the deported students. Perry then said, “As a representative of the student body, to administration, I'm just curious on why you haven't done anything to represent the 12 students who have been deported.”

Dean Strauss proceeded to say that making a statement on behalf of the deported students was “above his pay grade” and then refused to talk further about the subject after realizing he was being recorded.

The fight for a sanctuary campus will continue.

#DetroitMI #MI #ImmigrantRights #StudentMovement #SDS

Los Angeles, CA – On the evening of Monday, October 26, over 30 Chicanos marched on the East Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department station to denounce the collaboration of ICE and East LA Sheriffs. In California and LA county there are laws and policies that are supposed to limit and ban the collaboration of local police and federal ICE agents.

In October alone, at least three people have been kidnapped by masked ICE agents just feet outside the East Los Angeles Sheriff's Department station at Belvedere Park Lake. There have also been videos circulated online that show masked ICE agents staging in a parking lot directly in front of the sheriff’s station.

This collaboration comes as part of “Operation Safe California,” the 45-day immigration enforcement surge launched by ICE and the Department of Homeland Security.

The protest was organized by Centro CSO and began with a program of speakers from Centro CSO, Check the Sheriff Coalition and the Boyle Heights Immigrant Rights network.

Brianna Mosqueda of CSO’s Immigration Committee told the crowd, “We're here together as a group, as Centro CSO and we are not going anywhere, we are here to demand the East Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department stop collaborating with ICE.”

Emiliano Martin Del Campo of the CSO Police Accountability Committee stated, “The people have a right to know how our community is being policed, who is doing so, and how our resources are being utilized. This clear collaboration of ICE and sheriffs has to be stopped immediately to protect our community from further harm.”

Verita Topete, chair of Centro CSO’s Immigration Committee, said, “For generations, Raza in Aztlán have lived under a system that criminalizes us on one side and targets us for deportation on the other. Police violence and ICE repression work together to control and silence our people. This is national oppression, and we refuse to accept it!”

After the program, the community marched on the East Los Angeles Sheriff Station. Marchers chanted, “La migra, la policía, la misma porqueria!”

The protesters went through the yellow tape that the sheriffs put up to stop the people from reaching the station, which is supposed to be open to the public. The sheriff deputies quickly locked the station doors as the crowd of angry Chicanos approached, and the protesters proceeded to chant and bang on the glass doors.

Folks in attendance said the sheriff’s deputies will do whatever they can to stop protest, but the same deputies will look the other away when masked ICE agents kidnap raza from the public park outside. The protest ended with organizers telling those in attendance to sign up at the table and stay involved. To stay up to date, make sure to follow Centro CSO on all socials.

Update: On the morning of October 31, another person was kidnapped by ICE after being released from the custody of the sheriff's department, a clear sign that there is ongoing collaboration between LA sheriffs and ICE.

#LosAngelesCA #CA #ImmigrantRights #OppressedNationalities #Chicano #ICE #LASD

Santa Ana, CA – On October 20, Santa Ana residents and community activists rallied at city council to demand an end to the attack against Chicanos and immigrants.

This city council meeting came after two major incidents involving the Santa Ana Police Department (SAPD), resulting in several protests and a lot of angry Santa Ana residents.

On October 15, two Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) watchers Adeline Tonocco and Madison Crabill were arrested and charged by SAPD with felony stalking and conspiracy for legally observing federal ICE agents. The ICE agents then called SAPD for help and were told to drive to the police station, where the two watchers were then apprehended.

Charges against Madison Cabril have been dropped at this time, but Adeline Tonocco is still being charged with felony stalking and conspiracy, as well as resisting arrest.

Just 19 days before, on October 1, a viral video shed light on the brutal police beating of Santa Ana resident Florentino Lopez by officers Luis Casillas and Marco Benavides.

“ICE out of Santa Ana!” “No hate no fear, immigrants are welcomed here!” and “SAPD, KKK, I-C-E, they’re all the same!” could be heard from inside the city hall chambers as community members chanted outside the building.

Rain Mendoza from the Community Service Organization Orange County (CSO OC) Immigration Committee kicked off the rally, “Chicanos and immigrants are being targeted by different forces, including the SAPD, federal ICE agents, and Kingsley Management Corporation. So we are here today demanding accountability and real change! No collaboration between SAPD and ICE! Fire the officers who brutalized Florentino Lopez! Demand the city create a resolution to investigate management at Coach Royal!”

Stef Dorantes from CSO OC’s Police Accountability Committee took the mic, “We saw the brutal beating of Florentino Lopez by two SAPD officers, one of which we are very familiar with, because he has taken part in several police killings and acts of violence against unarmed Santa Ana residents. We demand justice for Florentino Lopez.”

Tanya Navarro from CHISPA spoke next, “SAPD is out here arresting community members for illegally observing ICE. SAPD has a contract with Flock and has been proven on several occasions that they have outsourced our data to the federal government. So where is the sanctuary city? Where is the accountability from the city of Santa Ana?”

CSO OC’s immigration committee members spoke on the reason they are rallying in support of city council agenda item 29, which, if passed, would prompt the city to create a resolution to investigate the crimes committed by Kingsley Corporation against the Coach Royal Mobile Home Park residents.

“CSO’s immigration committee is here to demand an investigation into Kingsley Management for the ongoing harassment and intimidation that the working-class immigrant residents of Coach Royal Mobile Home are facing. Residents have been subject to constant harassment, threats of eviction, and even threats of ICE enforcement,” said Khue Bui, member of CSO.

“We need justice now!” declared Guadalupe Barragan, Coach Royal resident. “Kinglsey corporation needs to be investigated for all the homes they stole. They continue to exploit us!”

Diana Terreros from Freedom Road Socialist Organization (FRSO) told the crowd, “Everywhere you look, you will find examples of people being oppressed, because these are symptoms of the larger problem, living under monopoly capitalism and national oppression. In this system, those who hold the most wealth make the decisions for the rest of us.”

Terreros continued, “Until this system is dismantled, we will continue to see exploitation and suffering. That is why we fight for socialism. We in Freedom Road want to put the power into the hands of the working class to transform society and we have a real strategy to build a revolution here in the U.S.”

As the rally wrapped up and public comment part of the city council meeting began, many remarked how they would be unable to give their comment due to the city’s strict cut off time of 5:45 p.m. to submit their name. About a dozen people from different organizations were unable to give their comments.

The chambers were flooded with signs stating, “Fuera Kingsley,” “Justice for Florentino Lopez” and “End ICE X SAPD collaboration.”

“We are human beings; we are not toys. We demand that Kingsley Corporation be investigated.

We are asking for you to do what’s right,” said Karla Alvarado, speaking in favor of agenda item

29 to be passed.

The crowd booed the city council and shouted “Shame!” in support of person after person who went up to the podium to demand accountability from the city council for their inaction regarding the Coach Royal residents, SAPD killings, and SAPD and ICE collaboration.

Abraham Quintana from CSO OC’s Police Accountability Committee took to the podium, “We need community control of the police to truly hold officers accountable, to put decisions regarding police policy, spending, and discipline in the hands of residents. Fire Luis Casillas, fire Marco Benavides, and fire all the killer cops on your department pay roll!”

Halfway through the city council meeting, Mayor Amezcua fled the room and was not seen again until the majority of the people left the meeting towards the very end of public comment.

Agenda item 29, which CSO OC’s immigration committee rallied behind approving, was passed by city council in a victory for the Coach Royal residents and a step towards holding Kingsley Corporation accountable.

If you are interested in joining CSO OC in this campaign, you can contact them at orangecountycso@gmail.com or on Instagram at @CSO.OC.

#ImmigrantRights #CSO #CSOOC #SantaAnaCA #CA #SantaAna #CoachRoyal #Chicano

Burien, WA — On the night of October 26, in the City Council room of the Burien Library in the metropolitan area of Seattle, grassroots organizers and community members celebrated the passage of Ordinance 911 by unanimous vote of the Burien City Council, implementing a 6-month moratorium on detention centers. This is recognized as the first step to buy time for the council to formulate and pass a permanent ban through the city land-use code.

The idea for a ban on detention centers in Burien came from the King County Immigrant Rights Alliance (KCIRA), a new and growing organization dedicated to building a broad fight-back against ICE and their local collaborators. The combination of KCIRA’s persistent pressure, bringing the need for a detention center moratorium to both the community and council, and a friendly city council resulted in a swift victory on their campaign of less than three months. Now, organizers are preparing to bring the lessons of this win to the community and build their forces for the next fight.

Why a detention center moratorium, and why Burien?

“With Trump’s accelerating attacks on immigrants across the United States, targeting a quota of 3,000 immigration arrests per day, ICE is running up against a physical infrastructure problem,” said Joseph Ostheller, a KCIRA organizer. “Documents between ICE and the private contractor GEO Group, who runs the for-profit Northwest Detention Center in Tacoma less than 25 miles south of here, indicate that ICE wants more space to wrongly imprison people. All over the country, the Trump administration is looking to build as many of these concentration camps as they can.”

The problem for ICE and GEO Group, however, is that a 2018 change to Tacoma’s land use code cut off legal avenues for private contractors like GEO to build or expand new detention center capacity. While the question of compliance and enforcement by Tacoma City Council isn’t guaranteed, organizers from KCIRA say they fear GEO Group could attempt to expand their operations for ICE in King County instead.

This fear has been shared by communities all across the county, resulting in a series of jurisdictions passing moratoriums on the construction of new detention centers, such as the cities of Seattle, SeaTac, Tukwila, and Kent, as well as the unincorporated areas of King County itself.

When asked about why they chose Burien as the site for their first campaign, Ostheller said, “Burien is a small, yet very diverse city of over 50,000 people, with over a quarter of those being first-generation immigrants. In recent months, Burien and its surrounding areas have seen an intense increase in immigration terror, detentions, and violence from federal agents. It is also next to King County Airfield, the airport that ICE uses to conduct its deportation and transfer flights, making it a prime target for expansion of ICE’s operations.”

Lessons and next steps

The biggest lesson organizers are taking away from this first step is that grassroots movements are needed to make change happen even with progressive politicians. Since the last election cycle, Burien City Council has had a progressive supermajority that set up a special committee to address the concerns of immigrants in the local area. However, when organizers from KCIRA began their work on their campaign, the council had only gone as far as non-binding resolutions. After their efforts, work began immediately on developing a detention center moratorium. Thanks to this pressure, both KCIRA and the city council are looking to go further.

While a temporary moratorium was the KCIRA’s first demand, the struggle continues for a permanent ban through the city's land use codes, and even further to ban the use of automated license plate readers (ALPRs) such as FLOCK and Axon cameras that ICE is using to track and detain people across the country.

Now that their first major victory is under their belt, immigrant rights organizers in King County say they are eager to turn up the heat and work even harder to bring more immigrants, supporters, and family members into the fight.

#BurienWA #WA #ImmigrantRights #ICE #DetentionCenter

Minneapolis, MN – On October 24, more than 60 protesters lined Lake Street to demand an end to ICE and police terror. The protest was organized by the Minnesota Immigrant Rights Action Committee and co-hosted by the Twin Cities Coalition for Justice to connect the violence inflicted on the community by both the police and ICE.

As threats of a second ICE surge loom, with the beginnings of increased ICE sightings reported from community rapid response groups, the people of Minnesota show that they will fight back harder – they have fought militantly against ICE before and will do so again.

The protest was held on Lake Street in the heart of South Minneapolis’ immigrant community. Up and down lake street supportive honks were heard from passing cars as protesters chanted, “When immigrants are under attack, what do we do? Stand up, fight back!”

Jana Williams spoke about a recent win in the fight for justice for her niece Allison Lussier. Allison Lussier was murdered two years ago, and her case was neglected by the Minneapolis Police Department. Only two days before the protest, and after years of her family and community members fighting for justice, a murder charge was finally filed in her case.

Williams stated, “The other day when I sat across from the six women from the Hennepin County Attorney’s Office. They sat across the table from me, telling me that we were finally getting Chuck Foss charged. And I had a sigh of relief; I can maybe exhale. And I said, ‘Do you know what MPD did? They surrounded me and us with armored vehicles.’ They said yes, we did know that. Shame on you! You were willing to harm us, arrest us, tear gas us, put us behind bars, but you were not willing to do this with violent criminals!”

Williams urged the crowd to continue to put pressure on Mayor Frey to hold all the officers involved accountable.

Alissa Washington, representing the Twin Cities Coalition for Justice, told protesters, “My fiancé, Cornelius Jackson, has been incarcerated for 20 years. My family is fighting for answers about Stephen Washington’s death in prison while also living with my uncle’s deportation. These struggles meet in my family and in so many others. That is why our solidarity reaches across prison walls and borders, including to Palestine and people resisting war and occupation. Every family deserves safety, dignity, and a future together.”

Greg King, representing the North STAR Alliance said: “Nobody in our community, regardless of their immigration status, should be hunted down and assaulted or shot in the street for their perceived immigration status. There is no reason on earth that we should not be giving immigration agents guns to enforce civil immigration law. And by the same token, we should not be giving law enforcement officers in our state, who have guns and a history of racial profiling ending in fatal encounters in our streets, permission to start asking people for their papers.”

The protest ended with a speech from Aizar Cabrera of the Minnesota Immigrant Rights Action Committee.

“We immigrants know about scary times. We are living in exile,” said Cabrera, “but make no mistake, it did not start in January of 2025, and it has not ended yet. We are living in a state of terror. The immigration enforcement machine has been grinding through our communities for decades, across every administration.” The speech ended with a call to Governor Walz to make Minnesota a sanctuary state.

MIRAC will continue to pressure Governor Walz to take executive action and ensure that Minnesota is prepared for another onslaught of federal terror. MIRAC demands that Walz issue a sanctuary state executive order that would ban 287(g) agreements and any type of collaboration between local law enforcement and ICE, keep ICE out of sensitive locations and off state property, outlaw secret police, and more. MIRAC will also continue to support the fight for community control of the police in Minneapolis.

#MinneapolisMN #MN #ImmigrantRights #InJusticeSystem #MIRAC #TCC4J

Dallas, TX – On October 14, organizers with the Dallas chapter of the National Alliance Against Racism and Political Repression (NAARPR Dallas) spoke at Dallas City Hall to call for the city council to move forward a resolution denouncing the crimes of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and demanding for an independent investigation into ICE violence.

Lili Delgado, an organizer with NAARPR Dallas, said at the open mic period, “Dallas City Council has a responsibility towards its residents, be they documented or undocumented. We demand the city of Dallas issue an official statement denouncing ICE shootings and killings and also pledges to use all its available powers to investigate directly or fund an independent investigation in the event of an ICE shooting or killing here in Dallas.”

Delgado continued, “This is about actions and not just words and we have to ensure that there are independent investigations into these shootings; it is our duty to our community to ensure there is justice for the actual events.”

ICE has shot at least 24 people since last year, including Lorenzo Salgado Araujo, who was killed by ICE in Houston earlier this year, and Wilber Rafael Garces Perez, who was shot and is being held captive by ICE in Austin.

#DallasTX #TX #InJusticeSystem #NAARPR #ImmigrantRights #ICE #KillerCops #KillerICE

Burkhardt was not home at the time, but her roommate confirmed that she lived there. The FBI gave the roommate an information card with the name and number of the agent but was unsuccessful in getting the roommate to answer other questions. The agent was not let inside. Burkhardt stated of the encounter, “Where’s my freedom of speech?”

On the same day, activist Collin Grannis had his door knocked on by FBI agent Nick Zollinger and his partner. His roommate answered the door. The roommate got the contact information from them, and the pair of agents left.

Then later, after the visit to Grannis’ apartment, Chase Barrett arrived home to find a pair of agents sitting inside. His parents had let them in before he was around. Grannis states, “As a result of my involvement with the local grassroots movement People of Provo Against ICE, I was approached by two FBI agents at my home.”

The FBI’s investigations into People of Provo Against ICE are meant to intimidate activists. Protesting is not a crime, and PoPAI will not stop fighting back against ICE.

Chrisley Carpio, of the Committee to Stop FBI Repression states, “Activists should not talk to the FBI. We need to meet them with a wall of silence.”

#ProvoUT #UT #InJusticeSystem #PoliticalRepression #FBI #StopFBI #CSFR #ImmigrantRights #Featured

Chicago, IL – On October 14, over 50 Chicagoans gathered at Casa Michoacan in the Pilsen neighborhood for a town hall meeting on the ongoing campaign to end collaborations between the Chicago Police Department and federal agents. This town hall, organized by the Immigrant Rights Working Committee of the Chicago Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression (IRWC of CAARPR), served as both a celebration of the progress that has been made on the campaign and as an open discussion of how to move forward.

This town hall comes after a recent victory in the IRWC’s campaign. After a year of pressure and mobilization at the Community Commission for Public Safety and Accountability’s (CCPSA , the city’s police accountability board) monthly meetings, a resolution was passed by the commission to hold special quarterly hearings regarding how CPD implements and enforces the Welcoming City Ordinance. This win signifies a new phase in this campaign.

Louise Carhart opened up the discussion addressing the basis to the campaign, stating, “A lot of people were very upset because they had seen their communities torn apart by ICE in the preceding months, and had seen very little action on any CPD collaborations that had taken place.”

She continued, “The CCPSA would be where that accountability starts, given their position at the top of the accountability bureau in Chicago. After that, there wasn’t a lot of follow up from the CCPSA, despite repeated community outcry about this issue, despite increasing reports of CPD and ICE collaboration.”

Omar Flores, a leading member of the IRWC, and someone who has been on the ground to document police collaboration, talked about how CPD escalated confrontations between federal agents and community members.

Flores stated, “A lot of CPD’s justifications to how they respond to these situations and why they do ‘crowd control’ is because they say they’re there to calm the situation. But any of us who have been in the movement for any amount of time, or even just in communities that police tend to arrest, know that they are not de-escalators. They are escalators, that is their whole goal. To go in there and make the situation worse.”

A member of Pilsen Unidos por Nuestro Orgullo (PUNO) spoke up during the discussion, “We have seen in the last month or so instances where there have been known ICE vehicles in police-only areas. This is something that we also will have to go to the CCPSA and COPA [Civilian Office for Police Accountability] you know, to raise the alarm.” They referred to instances where ICE agents have used CPD parking lots as staging grounds for raids.

Investigations into these events are currently underway, and the struggle against police collaboration is growing across the city. It has become a major criteria to the selection of the next Chicago Police Department superintendent. The campaign is far from over, and the IRWC is ready to mobilize for meetings and to the streets.

#ChicagoIL #IL #ImmigrantRights #ICE #CPD #OppressedNationalities

Portland, OR – On the evening of October 19, 150 people attended an immigrant rights-centered town hall meeting with Portland City Council candidates. Candidates running for city council in Districts 3 and 4 were invited to participate and present their position on questions of immigration, the police, sanctuary policy, and the Macadam ICE facility in South Portland.

The candidates in attendance included incumbents Mitch Green, Tiffany Koyama Lane, Angelita Morillo, and new candidates such as Dr. Esther Leon, Tom Sollitt, Jamey Evanstar, Eli Arnold and Jeremy Beausoleil Smith.

Immigrant rights organization Portland Contra Las Deportaciones hosted the event. In the opening statement, Taylor Goss, a member of PDXCD stated, “This town hall is so important because it affords us the opportunity to elect councilors who are willing to be bold, and fight with us to defeat Trump’s attacks. We need action now to shut down the facility and stop the terrorizing of immigrants in Portland!”

PDXCD is in the midst of a campaign to shut down the Portland ICE facility that operates under a permit approved by Portland City Council in 2011. They’ve held many actions demanding city council take action to shut down the facility and had sparred with some of the incumbents at the town hall in the past.

The demand to shut down the facility resonated with many in attendance, receiving applause and cheers.

When asked about the mayor’s response to the ICE surge, candidate Jeremy Smith scrutinized the lack of action from Mayor Keith Wilson on shutting down the facility. Another question asked about the city council’s response to ICE, to which some non-incumbents replied that council should have done more. Dr. Esther León echoed the demand to revoke the ICE facility permit, stating that the city should have already shut it down. León added that the current council’s capitulation to Trump does not keep Portland safe from his attacks, but in fact, lays the groundwork for further federal overreach.

One line of questioning asked about existing law and if city council has the obligation and responsibility to change it if it is no longer working. Candidate Tom Sollitt responded, “if the [laws/code] made sense in the past, but we see in the moment when things don’t work out, there is an obligation to make change. The lack of desire to enforce the facility impact fee and action from the mayor and executive branch, city council should continue moving forward with proposals even if it includes a proposal to revoke [the ICE facility’s] permit.”

Moderators also inquired about the ways councilors can fight for immigrant rights outside public office, and the police’s role in ICE activity as well as their activity against immigrant rights protesters.

Cami Saunders asked a question about the use of police to forcefully remove protesters from city hall, saying “Members of our organization have been violently removed from city hall by the Portland police when no one was being harmed. Do you condemn that use of the Portland police?” Mitch Green, a sitting councilor during many forceful removals of protesters, stated that the police should not be used to “remove the people from the people’s house,” and subsequently condemned the use of the police in that manner. The rest of the candidates, including other incumbents who allowed the police to eject protesters, unanimously aligned with Green and condemned it.

“I’m confused by Mitch Green’s response,” Saunders said after the event. “He condemned the use of police to kick out protesters from city hall, yet he was a part of the group of councilors that allowed police to be called on us for protesting last year. We need more than statements, and I hope to see this reflected in his actions if he is re-elected.”

When asked how she felt about the responses at the town hall, Beatriz Ibarra said, “Some of the excuses that were given about the lack of action on the facility have been said before, such as issues with the mayor, the supremacy clause, as well as the lengthy legal process. These came mainly from the incumbent candidates. It was refreshing to see other candidates take the stand for revoking the permit and show willingness to fight back against Trump's attacks in a bold manner.” Ibarra was one of the many people that have been arrested for protesting outside the ICE facility.

In closing out the event, PDXCD urged the attendees to support them in their next action for the revocation of the Macadam ICE facility permit. A hearing on the ICE facility land use violation case is scheduled for November 20. The violation was issued in September of 2025 and has been stalled and appealed every step of the way. Activists demand the judge overseeing the case, Judge Steffan Alexander, stop allowing landowner Stuart Lindquist to delay consequences for human suffering at the facility he leases to ICE.

On the topic of the outcome of the event, Stephanie Wilde, one of the main organizers, said, “one of my highlights of the evening had to have been the groups that came out. It gave me such a feeling of camaraderie and togetherness. I spoke with a lot of the groups on just how coming together like this strengthens all of us and strengthens our resolve to keep going.”

The event was supported and endorsed from Sunrise Movement PDX, Centennial Education Association, Oregon Working Families Party, Freedom Road Socialist Organization, Knitters Against Fascism, Multnomah Democrats, SW Indivisible Resistance, Portland For Palestine, Shannon Singleton for Multnomah County, Parkrose UCC and Singing Resistance.

#PortlandOR #OR #ImmigrantRights #ICE #PDXCD #ICEDetentionCenter

Los Angeles, CA – On October 2 – 4, Over 100 progressives, activists and community members attended the Left Coast Forum at California State University, Los Angeles.

The Left Coast forum was a weekend of panels and workshops led by grassroot organizations, authors, and members of teacher unions. The Legalization 4 All Network (L4A) had a panel on the final day of the forum.

Members of Centro CSO (Los Angeles), CSO Orange County, and Aurora Unidos CSO spoke about their firsthand experiences with political repression, and the local campaigns they are currently working on as members of the Legalization for All Network.

Speakers included Verita Topete of Centro CSO, Yosselin Corrales of Aurora Unidos CSO, Diana Terreros of CSO Orange County, with moderation done by Marisol Marquez Co-Chair of L4A network

Diana Terreros, spoke on their campaign to organize tenants at Kingsley Mobile Home Park, many who are undocumented, stating, “The manager of the park, Olivia Garcia, has threatened to call ICE on some of the residents, so they use these tactics to silence the residents.”

Yoselin Corrales stated, “ICE is just one branch of a really broken system and so abolishing ICE isn't going to fix the problem because something else will just come in and replace it so we need to abolish the system that criminalizes immigrants.”

Corrales and others in Aurora Unidos CSO were recently successful in getting state charges dropped against them for protesting at Colorado's ICE Field Office.

Verita Topete spoke on their next steps to get ICE out of White Memorial Hospital, “We're going to be putting up tear-off flyers that have our phone number inside the hospital.” The hope is that this next step will allow Raza to find their loved ones.

To get into the fight for Legalization 4 All, follow Legalization 4 All on Instagram and join one of the monthly meetings.

#LosAngelesCA #CA #ImmigrantRights #L4A #CentroCSO

Washington, D.C. – On Saturday, October 17, a broad coalition of groups from D.C. and Maryland rallied in front of the U.S. Department of Justice headquarters demanding an end to the racist and political repression by the Trump administration. The action came in the wake of a violent pre-dawn raid on Minnesota Congresswoman Ilhan Omar’s home earlier that week by the Department of Homeland Security, and the targeted surveillance and intimidation of local activists by FBI and Border Patrol agents.

Congresswoman Ilhan Omar’s staff shared a statement in support of the action, “Thank you for the outpouring of support today and over the past week, [Rep. Omar] will not be silenced – she thanks you for having her back, and she will always have yours.”

Rep. Ilhan Omar represents the largest Somali population in the U.S., and has been a stalwart champion for immigrant communities, a powerful opponent of Trump’s mass deportation schemes and a vocal critic against Trump’s Islamophobic and racist policies. The Trump administration’s recent raid on her home is the most recent attack in a racist smear campaign meant to cast unfounded suspicion over her U.S. citizenship and create pretext for her deportation.

“These racist attacks on Rep. Ilhan Omar; our comrades being yanked off trains by Border Patrol and terrorized by the FBI, simply for speaking out – these are things that we will never accept!” said Merawi Gerima, an organizer with the DC Alliance Against Political Repression, drawing connections between the raid on Rep. Omar’s home and the escalating political repression of local organizers by the Trump administration.

Currently, Baltimore-based Filipino American organizer Christina Pasion remains detained for her activism for national democracy in the Philippines. Christina Pasion’s wife, Vivian Pasion, drew attention to her wife’s perseverance through the retaliation she was facing for her activism, and added that Christina’s family was also facing unannounced visits and harassment from federal agents.

“We are building a mass movement that is standing up against fascist attacks led by the United States, right here at home and abroad. I am not afraid of the FBI because I know that I have the full force of a mass movement behind me, and it’s only been growing,” a member of the Baltimore Coalition for Human Rights in the Philippines.

Gordon Mutch, an organizer with the International Coalition for Human Rights in the Philippines, had also experienced intimidation and harassment by Customs and Border Patrol. Just weeks before the raid on Rep. Omar, Mutch was traveling to a human rights conference in Toronto by Amtrak train. Near the Canadian border, the train stopped and riders heard the conductor say over the intercom “Ok, please make this quick gentlemen,” moments before armed Border Patrol agents walked directly to Mutch’s seat and grabbed him off the train.

After hours of detention, Mutch’s phone and laptop were seized, and he was forced to find his way from the boarder back to Maryland without a cell phone. He was given no explanation for why he was being targeted, but the timing makes it clear that it was in retaliation for his peace activism, particularly due to his being a vocal advocate for Pasion’s release from administrative detention in the Philippines. His devices have yet to be returned.

“There is active collusion between the U.S. government and the Philippine government in repressing U.S.-based activists standing up against the widespread human rights abuses under the fascist Marcos Jr. regime,” Mutch said.

The attacks on Gordon and Vivian have prompted the creation of a new national anti-repression coalition named Stop the Attacks, whose goal is to unite a broad movement to crush Trump’s repression machine.

Meanwhile, earlier in the same week on October 13, the Chair of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform launched a partisan investigation on D.C.-based organizations Free DC and Harriet’s Wildest Dreams for holding public jury duty trainings to educate local communities about the racist system of jury selection and the repressive nature of grand jury prosecutions – a particularly salient issue in D.C., where most serious court cases are settled in federal courts due to D.C.’s lack of State’s Attorney’s offices, stemming from its statehood being denied.

As they marched in the streets from the Department of Justice to the White House, protesters chanted, “Stop the raids, stop the attacks! We have Ilhan Omar’s back!” and “Hands off our organizations, stop these racist deportations!” in a show of united force and to demand an end to the Trump administration’s repression of local and national activists alike.

The coalition behind Saturday’s action included the DC Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression, Stop the Attacks Coalition, International League of People’s Struggle, Code Pink DC, Bayan DMV, ICHRP US, BalCHRP, Asians for Palestine DMV, 50501DC, Metro DSA, Anakbayan DC, FLARE, and Families Not Feds Coalition.

#WashingtonDC #ImmigrantRights #IlhanOmar #InJusticeSystem #PoliticalRepression

Tacoma, WA – For over seven months, Felix Vladimir Ponce Alvarez has been detained at the Northwest Detention Center (NWDC). Felix has lived in Seattle since 2002, where he started his business and raised his family. Pierce County Immigration Alliance (PCIA) is demanding his immediate release from the Northwest Detention Center and calling for an end to the horrific conditions that he is facing during his detention.

As part of the process to gain his citizenship, Felix was obligated by ICE and the DHS to check in with officials monthly. He was fulfilling these legal obligations when he was detained without any clear reason on February 24, 2026. These circumstances leading up to his wrongful detention are not unlike many of the stories behind the status of detained people, where the established legal process for citizenship is instead used as a means for ICE agents to intercept immigrants in order to fill their detention quotas. In Felix’s case, he was already scheduled for another court check-in in March, when his legal process was interrupted without any valid cause.

In the last seven months, Felix has missed family birthdays and graduations. He also grieves the loss of his brother and the repossession of his home since he was unable to make payments on his mortgage while in detention. Felix's family has joined PCIA in protests and in reaching out to Washington state representatives directly to demand his freedom.

During his detention at the NWDC, Felix has been subjected to dire conditions. Inside, people are regularly denied access to medical care and they receive low-quality food that has been reported to have bugs in it. They also receive meals hours late and are given access to water that is cloudy and often has bugs in it.

Felix has not just been fighting for his release, but he has also often spoken out against mistreatment from guards and has frequently supported other people in his unit in detention by translating for the other Spanish speakers. When people speak out against the conditions they are facing, they are often met with repression. That can look like receiving frequent bed checks, getting written up by guards, or even being sent to solitary confinement.

This repression does not stop people from fighting back or speaking out. One of the ways that people protest their conditions at the NWDC is through hunger strikes. As of August, of this year, there have been 20 hunger strikes at the Northwest Detention Center to demand better conditions.

When describing the immigration system, Felix stated, “It is one of the largest human trafficking operations in human history, but it's considered legal.” ICE has ramped up its operations in Pierce County and all across the country, and in turn, so has the NWDC. Transports have significantly increased over the past couple of months. It is estimated that over 500 people have been transported in a single day. The NWDC is also seeking to expand its operations by changing its bed capacity from 1575 to 1635 people. This is despite the city of Tacoma’s current zoning laws, which prohibit its expansion.

“Felix should have never been detained. He shouldn’t have to spend another day in detention facing conditions where he has to fight every day for his basic rights and the rights of others. He should be at home with his family. He should be out here with his community,” stated Sumeet Kaur, a member of the Pierce County Immigration Alliance. “We will not stop fighting until Felix is free. We will not stop fighting until every single person in this detention center is free and it is shut down! We will not stop fighting until there is legalization for all and an end to immigration terror!”

#TacomaWA #WA #ImmigrantRights #ICE #FelixAlvarez

Albert Lea, MN – Fourteen months. That is how long Eliud Jahdiel de la Luz Baéz, a 23-year-old Minnesotan, has been unjustly detained by ICE. On October 18, dozens of protesters organized a noise demonstration outside of the Freeborn County Detention Center to lift the spirits of the detained immigrants and demand the release of Eliud and the tens of thousands of other immigrant detainees from across the United States.

Organizers from the Minnesota Immigrants Movement (MIM) and the Minnesota Immigrant Rights Action Committee (MIRAC) condemned the targeted violence from ICE and the Trump administration against immigrants and community members. During the demonstration, Eliud’s mother shared her nightmarish experiences over the last 14 months, stating, “All I want is Eliud’s freedom.”

Over the phone, Eliud also reflected on his own experiences in ICE detainment. Coming to the U.S. as a baby, his life here is all that he knows. Despite having current legal status under Deferred Action, ICE wrongfully arrested Eliud with no due process and has kept him in detention for over a year and counting. Eliud’s story is not unique. In Minnesota alone, there are nearly four thousand immigrants currently in ICE detention.

MIRAC member Aizar Cabrera emphasized, “We are here to represent hundreds of thousands of people who cannot speak. Today, we advocate for those who have been terrorized by violence, for those who are humiliated by segregation, for those who still fear tomorrow. Know this, you are not alone!”

MIRAC continues to demand that Governor Tim Walz sign an executive order to declare Minnesota as a sanctuary state. If you are interested in our full demands and would like to sign our petition to urge Walz to listen to the will of his constituents, please visit: miracmn.com/current-campaigns.

#AlbertLeaMN #MN #ImmigrantRights #ICE #MIM #MIRAC #Eliud #TimWalz

Tacoma, WA – On Wednesday, October 14, around 40 people gathered outside the Northwest Detention Center (NWDC) in support of immigrants in detention. Community members rallied for Kuya Desmon, whose final hearing was scheduled for later in the day. “Kuya” is a title of affectionate esteem used in the Philippines. Members of SEIU 6 also came out strong in support of two janitors who were detained on October 3.

“Immigrants rights are workers rights,” said Ceci Hooks, executive board member and security officer of SEIU 6. “When immigrants, workers and janitors and security officers and airport workers are under attack, we all suffer.”

The crowd chanted “Free them all!” and “You are not alone!” while banging on drums in between speeches.

Hooks continued, “The labor movement can hold ICE accountable for the abuse, violation of civil rights, physical violence inflicted on our communities across the country, violation of our due processes, and inhumane conditions they have created at these concentration camps.”

The first speaker of the event was Reverend Alex Booker of Queen Anne Baptist Church, who closed his speech with a prayer before the crowd began chanting again.

“I'm out here to stand in solidarity with those who are facing horrible immigration terror from the Trump administration,” said Christian Tuller, member of SEIU 775.

The recent apprehensions by ICE are part of a reported push from the White House for ICE to arrest at least 2000 people per day. This quota has resulted in an increase of detentions occurring at the NWDC since the summer of 2026.

One of the speakers at the event was Liliana Chumpitasi, a union member of SEIU. Chumpitasi delivered her speech in Spanish, with an interpreter there to translate to English.

“These workers are immigrants who have come to contribute to this country and deserve the same opportunities as everyone else,” said Chumpitasi. “This is affecting the country’s working class, and when these injustices occur, it’s definitely not just the union that needs to step up—everyone needs to show solidarity with them and work to shut down this detention center.”

Voices continued to ring through the streets as attendees chanted, “The people united will never be defeated!” and “El pueblo unido jamás será vencido!” The attendees heard more speeches from groups such as Capybara Collectiva and Tanggol Migrante Movement, who uplifted the stories of Kuya Desmon and Kuya Nestor, who were both kidnapped by ICE in June.

“We're not scared. We're out here fighting and we're going to keep fighting,” said Ari Peel, member of Teamsters 174. “Many of these people who are detained are in unions, and if not in unions, they are almost all workers. This is absolutely a labor fight. We should all show out in solidarity, because our fights are so much stronger when we're together.

“The labor movement has a decisive role in this fight. We need to work together with all the people who are oppressed in this country in order to kind of get what we deserve,” said Tuller.

As the rally wound down, many stayed and waited to hear the results of Desmon’s final hearing. Chants continued, and despite the grim setting, spirits were high. The solidarity between various unions and community activists was strong.

When asked about the future of the movement and Trump’s reign of immigration terror, Naj Ali of SEIU 6 said: “Every kingdom will fall. And every evil will see justice. Whatever corruption and oppression there's been, there will be a day where every soul will come forth and be served what they served to the earth.”

“There are so many people who are starting to understand why they suffer, and are no longer willing to accept it,” said Tuller. “The people are ready.”

#TacomaWA #WA #ImmigrantRights #ICE #Philippines #SEIU #Labor

Tampa, FL – On the evening of Monday, October 12, activists from Tampa Immigrants Rights Committee (TampaIRC) held a press conference with the family of Adelaido Chavez Mariano, a Tampa Bay husband, father and Mexican immigrant, to demand transparency and justice following his brutalization and abduction.

Present were community members, Adelaido’s son Gandi Chavez, daughter Lizette Chavez and activists with TampaIRC and the Tampa Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression (TAARPR). The press conference served as a way to get Adelaido’s family’s demands and the truth of his story out to the public.

TampaIRC member Yunqing Zheng spoke about the day that Adelaido was arrested and the brutality that he faced during that arrest. Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO) Deputy Ryan Fisher delivered multiple blows to Adelaido’s head that resulted in a hematoma, which Adelaido’s daughter, Lizette, a medical assistant, was able to recognize.

Adelaido was denied medical care at the scene of the arrest, with the police turning away the emergency medical technicians, and was subsequently denied care in Falkenburg Road Jail. He was left visibly bruised, bleeding, unable to stand, and, in an effort to isolate him from his family, placed under a suicide watch, despite having no previous suicidal ideation.

Adelaido was then abducted by ICE and taken to the notorious “Deportation Depot” of Baker Correctional Institute, outside Jacksonville, where he was further denied care.

On October 2, Adelaido was bonded out by his family after being separated from them for two months.

It was revealed at the press conference that Hillsborough County Chief Deputy Joseph Mauer called Lizette several times during the workday and visited her residence. When she returned his call, he disclosed he was calling her on his personal phone, insisted they meet in person, and that she disclose her father’s location. When Lizette declined to disclose her father’s whereabouts, he threatened that he “can make arrangements to find out where he is.”

Gandi discussed the many inconsistencies in HCSO’s story, including whether the arresting officers’ body cameras were turned on, where the body cameras were during the arrest, how Adelaido was brutalized, and to the fact that arresting officer Deputy Ryan Fisher had his gun drawn on Adelaido when he approached him. Gandi stated, “We’re calling for a complete explanation and disclosure of the relevant evidence.”

Lizette Chavez, drawing on her medical background, discussed the obvious injuries that her father suffered that day that she could observe from video footage and the medical documents that she acquired after repeatedly requesting them from Falkenburg Road Jail. She explained how these injuries could be debilitating and life changing, given how they were unaddressed for a prolonged period. Describing Hillsborough Fire Rescue’s clearing of her father for booking, Lizette stated, “This is concerning, as the booking image presents a noticeable trauma to the head, and the statement in Officer Fisher’s preliminary report verbatim states using closed fist strikes – with an ‘s’ at the end.”

Both Lizette and Gandi also related the enormous amount of work that they have done to get their father’s records released, and to demand his release from ICE custody.

TampaIRC member Erain Boxtha placed Adelaido’s arrest in the context of the sweeps of arrests that have been taking place in recent months all across the country, in Trump’s effort to deport millions during his term. In August, ICE arrested over 50,000 people, setting a new record for immigration arrests in one month.

Owing to how obvious a case of police brutality this was, Laura Rodriguez of TAARPR spoke about other instances of HCSO misconduct and brutality, as in the cases of Jamel Daniels and Sandra Zikry, as well as Pastor Carl Soto, with HCSO’s brutalization of Zikry and Soto leaving them with permanent physical conditions.

The family and all attendees were united behind the family’s demands, among them releasing all digital media relating to Adelaido’s arrest, firing and charging the arresting officers, and closing Baker Correctional Institute. The plan to keep pressure on HCSO until these demands are met.

#TampaFL #FL #InJusticeSystem #TIRC #TAARPR #ImmigrantRights

Portland, OR – On Tuesday, October 13, organizers with Portland Contra Las Deportaciones (PDXCD) rallied to oppose the recent surge of ICE detentions in the Portland area and demand justice for Oscar Bergal, shot by ICE in New York just days prior.

Bergal is one of 39 or more people shot by immigration agents during the second Trump administration, including Portlanders Luis David Nino-Moncado and Yorlenys Betzabeth Zambrano-Contreras, who Customs and Border Patrol targeted and shot in January of 2026.

Just this week, between October 6 and 10, 48 ICE detainments in Oregon were reported to a hotline, meaning the actual number of detainments is much higher. This is more than double the average number of detentions per week in the prior months.

This comes after a DHS announcement of a surge of ICE activity in sanctuary cities like Portland.

PDXCD speaker Cass Cano spoke at the anti-ICE rally: “Immigration status should not be a death sentence. Our people are under attack, and we will not back down. We have to stand up to Trump and keep fighting ICE until we have won legalization for all, an end to the deportations, and ICE out of everywhere.”

Protesters chanted “ICE out of Portland!” “Killer ICE off our streets!” and “Revoke the permit!” to demand that local officials take action to shut down the detention facility in Portland, which is a key instrument of ICE’s operations in the area.

Despite the growing support for the campaign to revoke the permit, Portland city councilors and some “progressive” forces argue that the facility, leased to ICE by wealthy landowner Stuart Lindquist, should remain open so when immigrants are detained for processing, lawyers can get in contact before they are moved to the Northwest Detention Center in Tacoma.

However, a recent congressional oversight visit to the Portland ICE facility revealed immigration agents are no longer using the facility for processing. Instead, they are deploying all agents to the field to grab people off the streets and sending them straight to the Northwest Detention Center by “processing” detainees in the field.

These findings, along with the recent upsurge in abductions, negate the crumbling assertion that the Portland detention camp benefits immigrants by providing detainees an opportunity for legal intervention prior to transfer – a long-empty argument that city officials continue to hide behind.

Cami Saunders of PDXCD noted the contradiction in the “progressive” rhetoric against revoking the permit, stating, “We don’t want or need a concentration camp in Portland, and it’s time for our elected officials to stop pretending like we do. What we actually need is for our legislators to stop siding with Trump and protecting ICE.”

The embattled ICE facility heads back to court November 20, as landlord Stuart Lindquist challenges a land use violation for holding detainees over a 12-hour limit in court. PDXCD is calling on Judge Steffan Alexander to strike down the case.

#PortlandOR #OR #ImmigrantRights #ICE #Feature

Portland, OR – On October 5, pro-Palestine activists disrupted a debate involving Marie Gluesenkamp Perez, the incumbent for Washington’s 3rd Congressional District. They confronted her over her lack of action on behalf of her constituent, Tareq Zakarneh. Zakarneh is a Palestinian man from the West Bank, currently held in ICE detention – he faces deportation to Israel’s ongoing genocide.

“It is unfortunately unsurprising Gluesenkamp Perez is unwilling to take action for Zakarneh,” said pro-Palestine activist Kacey Desantis, “she voted numerous times to provide arms and funds to Israel as it carries out genocide against Palestinians. Now, one of her constituents is being deported to the genocide she supports.”

The disruption was put on by local organization Portland for Palestine. One of its members stood up and questioned why Gluesenkamp Perez had taken no action. Police immediately escorted the protester out. Gluesenkamp Perez then stated that she required a signed privacy release form before intervening in Zakarneh’s case.

Gluesenkamp Perez claimed her office had not received the document until “very recently.” However, her office had possessed the form since September 9, almost a month before her remarks.

In light of this factual inconsistency, Portland for Palestine followed up with the congresswoman on October 7 as she left a televised debate. The group asked about the discrepancy and once again asked if she intended to act on Zakarneh’s behalf. They also questioned her continued support for Israel’s crimes.

Portland for Palestine first raised Zakarneh’s case with Gluesenkamp Perez at a campaign event on August 15. During that encounter, she and her staff first mentioned the need for a signed privacy release form. On August 28, the group delivered a letter to her office in Vancouver, Washington, demanding that she act. The office was locked, forcing activists to communicate with a single staffer by intercom. The staffer called the police at one point before finally allowing a member of Portland for Palestine inside to deliver the letter.

As Portland for Palestine increased its pressure on the congresswoman ahead of the October 7 event, in a brazen attempt to shirk responsibility, her staff went so far as to claim that Zakarneh was not even one of her constituents. Even the Department of Homeland Security’s own legal documents acknowledge Zakarneh lived in Gluesenkamp Perez’s district when he was detained.

According to Track AIPAC, Gluesenkamp Perez has received over $500,000 from pro-Israel political action committees. Beyond repeatedly voting to fund Israel’s military, she was one of 22 Democrats who joined Republicans to censure Representative Rashida Tlaib for allegedly “promoting false narratives” regarding the defiant act of resistance undertaken by the people of Gaza on October 7, 2023.

The U.S. currently has a policy of deporting Palestinians to Israel, as the U.S. government does not recognize Palestinian statehood.

Zakarneh spoke out about the fate he faces if deported to Israel: “Israeli authorities will target me directly because they are well-informed by the U.S. authorities I have been falsely categorized.” Zakarneh states that Israel has incorrectly labeled him as a member of Hamas, and says, “I will be arrested, I will be tortured. Israel will imprison me as long as they can. This is well known in the West Bank.”

Portland for Palestine continues to advocate for Zakarneh’s release from ICE detention, and for an end to the genocide in Palestine.

#PortlandOR #OR #AntiWarMovement #Palestine #ImmigrantRights