Congresswoman Janelle Bynum (D-Ore.) is demanding answers from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) following reports of targeted immigration enforcement actions in Central Oregon, including during wildfire evacuations and at local grocery stores. Community members and advocates allege that ICE’s activities have created a climate of fear among immigrant families, potentially undermining public safety and violating civil rights.
“These kinds of terror missions aren’t law enforcement, they’re state-sponsored fear,” Bynum said. “We cannot normalize masked men in unmarked cars any more than we normalize lynch mobs and slave patrols. This is a new America and we will not turn back.”
According to the Latino Community Association, ICE agents recently detained seven laborers at a housing construction site and have been increasingly visible in residential areas. Some community grocery stores have reported steep declines in sales and inventory, with customers avoiding essential errands out of fear. Constituents have begun carrying passports in public, concerned they may be profiled.
During the Alder Springs Fire, which prompted Level 3 evacuation orders, no immigrant families sought help from local service providers, citing fear of being detained. Advocates argue such enforcement actions discourage families from seeking safety or accessing basic needs during crises.
“What we’re seeing is cruel, illegal, and un-American,” said Catalina Sánchez Frank, executive director of the Latino Community Association. “We appreciate Congresswoman Bynum speaking out and we’ll continue working with her to put an end to these raids.”
Bynum has called on ICE to clarify whether it is targeting individuals during emergencies or essential outings, such as evacuations or grocery shopping. Community leaders argue the reported actions not only endanger immigrant families but compromise broader public safety during critical events like wildfires.
While ICE has not yet responded publicly to the allegations, local leaders continue to press for transparency and a halt to enforcement actions that coincide with natural disasters or essential community activities.
