Salem, Oregon – On Saturday, Governor Tina Kotek and First Lady Aimee Kotek Wilson met with lawmakers and community leaders from across Oregon to hear firsthand accounts of how stricter federal immigration enforcement is affecting families, schools, workplaces, and communities.
Advocates, educators, labor groups, and lawmakers who were at the roundtable addressed how enforcement efforts that are different from long-standing procedures have caused a rapid surge in fear and instability. Participants said the unpredictability of recent federal activity has made many families feel unsafe in their daily lives, even when they are simply going to work, school, or medical appointments.
Governor Kotek addressed how important immigrants are to Oregon’s economy and communities. He said that more than 400,000 immigrants live in the state and make up roughly 13 percent of the workforce.
“We must all come together through stronger coordination between community partners and state agencies to reduce fear and ensure families get the support they need,” Gov. Kotek said.
“Unpredictable and cruel actions traumatize children,” First Lady Kotek Wilson said. “This isn’t about politics – it’s about decency. We have to prevent harm to families, particularly children, so we can help support the long-term social-emotional health of our state.”
A number of community leaders discussed how big the problem had become. Representatives indicated that families have been monitored more closely and had surprise enforcement actions taken against them. For example, scores of migrant workers were abducted from their neighborhoods in a single day. They said that these acts are making people fearful and breaking down trust between communities and public institutions.
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Advocates and educators say that schools have been hit the most since students and families don’t want to go to class or talk to school workers. Speakers called the situation a humanitarian crisis and underlined the need for people to know that Oregon is still a place where all families are welcome and loved.
Lawmakers from the state who were at the table asked for a unified response, arguing that municipalities can’t handle the burden of federal enforcement on their own. They called for further lobbying for care, respect, and due process, as well as for broader immigration reform.
Governor Kotek talked about things her administration has done since before the current federal administration started, like the work done by the Office of Immigration and Refugee Advancement. That office has worked with more than 40 community partners to learn more about what people need and what help is missing.
State officials said that families of all immigration statuses are staying away from public places as enforcement increases. This means they are missing employment, health care, and school days. Community groups and local governments are also getting increasing requests for support, even if they don’t have a lot of resources.
The governor said that the legislature will be very important in making Oregon’s response stronger in the next session. Her office is closely following what lawmakers do as the state looks for ways to keep families safe and protect the community.
A recording of the press conference that followed the roundtable can be found here.
