Local Immigraiton Emergency Information - Stand Together, Lend a Hand, Don't Look Away

Emergency Immigration Information

From Commissioner Nafisa Fai’s Newsletter

I’ll be honest with you, this newsletter was not easy to write.

What is happening in Washington County right now is not normal. It is not acceptable. And it is not something we can ignore. Our immigrant neighbors, families who have built their lives here, who are part of the fabric of our community, are being hunted. Not by chance, not by mistake, but by design.

Over the past few weeks, masked men flashing ICE badges have appeared outside homes, workplaces, schools, and grocery stores. They have detained parents in front of their frightened children. They have followed workers on their morning commute. They have created a climate of fear so pervasive that some families are afraid to leave their homes at all.

This week, at an urgent community briefing hosted by Centro Cultural, the Portland Immigrant Rights Coalition shared the numbers: 329 detentions reported since October 1, of which 135 of them are connected directly to Washington County.

This is not happening in the shadows. It is happening on our streets, in Beaverton, in Hillsboro, in Forest Grove, across the county.

As your County Commissioner, I refuse to pretend that this is anything other than what it is: a campaign of terror that targets our neighbors, destabilizes our communities, and betrays our Washington County values.

On Tuesday, October 21, I called upon my colleagues to consider a state of emergency, following the path that Los Angeles County took when faced with similar threats of increased federal immigration raids.  This was an opportunity to demonstrate that local government will stand with our communities, especially in their moments of greatest need.

On Tuesday, November 4, the Washington County Board of Commissioners declared a state of emergency in response to the escalating ICE raids and the simultaneous SNAP access crisis affecting our communities. This is the first step, not the final one. The door is now open. We will not stop until the response matches the moment. Because our authority is not only legal, it is a moral responsibility.

Our county is strongest when we protect one another. When we do not let fear dictate who belongs. When we refuse to let cruelty operate uncontested in our neighborhoods.

So, I want to be clear. I will continue to use every tool available to expose these actions, to demand accountability, and to defend the safety and dignity of every person who calls Washington County home.

And if you or someone you know needs support, here are trusted, community-rooted resources:

This is a moment for clarity. A moment for courage. A moment to stand with our neighbors, not in words, but in practice.

Thank you for standing in solidarity. For choosing community over fear. For refusing to look away.

We are Washington County. Together, we will continue to build a stronger, safer, and more prosperous community for every resident to thrive.

In solidarity,
Nafisa Fai

Washington County Commissioner