ICE Enforcement Spurs Over 30 Arrests Across Oregon, Impacting Immigrant Communities

On Oct. 30 federal agents detained about 30 people in Woodburn, Oregon — part of what immigrant advocates and local organizations say is an unprecedented spike in ICE enforcement across the state that they estimate has resulted in more than 200 arrests since mid‑October. Advocates (PCUN, Portland Immigrant Rights Coalition and others) say many detained were farmworkers taken at homes, workplaces and school drop‑offs, sometimes without warrants and with reports that some were denied access to attorneys; Innovation Law Lab and CLEAR Clinic have filed habeas petitions and a broader lawsuit alleging denial of counsel. Community leaders, teachers and unions described Woodburn as a “ghost town,” saying the raids have terrified families, disrupted students and imperiled the local agricultural economy where immigrants make up a large share of workers. ICE said its Oct. 30 actions arrested more than 30 people, including some with final orders of removal and alleged illegal re‑entries and an individual tied to a DUI hit‑and‑run, though some news reports noted ICE had not confirmed all local counts; advocates condemned the operations as “racist, violent and arbitrary.” Legal efforts to secure releases are underway, two detainees were reported likely to be released, and community groups say the escalation is causing widespread harm to families and businesses.