Residents of Woodburn, Oregon, took a stand against Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents on January 5, 2024, successfully forcing them to leave the area during a public protest. The confrontation, which was captured on video, highlighted the community’s growing response to federal immigration enforcement in a city where approximately 63% of the population is Latino.
Witnesses reported that around 60 community members gathered in a parking lot outside a Key Bank, where two ICE officers were stranded after accidentally locking their key fob inside their vehicle. Leslie, a volunteer with a rapid response team, became aware of the situation around 1 p.m. through alerts from fellow community members. This team has been established to monitor ICE activity and inform residents of their presence.
Upon arriving at the scene, Leslie observed that the officers were not engaged in any active enforcement but were simply parked. As the crowd grew, they made their presence known by blowing whistles and chanting against ICE operations in Woodburn. Local police officers arrived to oversee the situation, but the ICE agents appeared reluctant to escalate tensions. One officer, speaking calmly to the protestors, expressed empathy for their concerns, stating, “I don’t even like doing this,” and mentioning that he “didn’t vote for Trump.”
The tension escalated when the agents attempted to call for assistance from two towing companies, M & M Towing and Camel Towing Oregon, to help them access their vehicle. According to Leslie, both companies declined to assist after the crowd intervened, even offering to pay one of the drivers to leave the scene.
As the situation unfolded, more ICE vehicles began arriving. Eventually, one of the agents received permission from a supervisor to break the rear window of the car to retrieve the key fob. Once the agents regained access to their vehicle, the crowd followed them in several cars to ensure they left Woodburn. The protestors pursued the agents down 99E towards Hubbard, with the agents ultimately taking the exit towards Wilsonville.
Leslie reflected on the event, acknowledging the power of community action: “It felt like, wow, gathering as a community and using our voice really has so much power.” She described her initial reaction to seeing ICE agents in her neighborhood as overwhelming, noting the fear they instill in families and the community at large.
The incident highlights the ongoing tensions surrounding immigration enforcement in the region. Woodburn’s Mayor, Frank Lonergan, condemned the presence of ICE in the city, stating, “It’s outrageous that masked agents, many who are unidentified as agents, are sweeping people off our streets, leaving families, children and employers in fear and complete limbo.”
Despite the potential for violence that has accompanied similar protests in other locations, residents in Woodburn continue to express their commitment to showing up for their neighbors and community. The incident serves as a reminder of the complex dynamics between federal enforcement actions and local community responses, particularly in areas with significant immigrant populations.
