PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — Members of a Portland immigrant rights group set out on a caravan Saturday morning, bound for the Northwest Detention Center in Tacoma, Washington.
Those affiliated with Portland Contra Las Deportaciones gathered in over a dozen cars in the second caravan to head to Tacoma, after those with a separate advocacy group departed and held a rally there the day before.
All of this comes amid the ramp up of activity by Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials, most recently affecting two Newberg vineyard workers who were arrested back in June.
One of the workers who was arrested, Moises Sotelo, was taken by ICE in Yamhill County, then transported to the ICE facility in Portland and finally taken to Tacoma. The rally in Tacoma by members of the first caravan was attended by Sotelo’s daughter.
Those involved in the current caravan told KOIN 6 News the goal is to highlight the detention process, build solidarity with similar groups, as well as bring awareness to a petition to revoke the permit on Portland’s ICE facility.
“I think both our communities here in Portland and in the state of Washington, we want to send the message that we have to stay unified if we want to kick ICE out of our cities,” said Pedro Angladacordero.
This comes the day after protests were held Friday, both in opposition to Trump’s policies – including those touted in his so-called big, beautiful bill – and against ongoing ICE activity.
As part of Trump’s bill, there was a $150 billion increase in funding for a border wall, immigration enforcement and deportations. The bill also extends cuts to Medicaid.
As a result, protests outside the Portland ICE facility got tense earlier in the day as demonstrators clashed with federal officers.
Given the steady presence protesters have held outside the ICE facility, caravan organizers hope that – plus more than 15,000 petition signatures collected – will put pressure on the Portland City Council to permanently close it.
But until then, they plan to organize similar events and build different organizations and advocacy groups.
