Council, shown here with community members, declared “Somos Inmigrantes in the City of Hood River” at its June 9 meeting, which council and community members commemorated with a photo.
Council, shown here with community members, declared “Somos Inmigrantes in the City of Hood River” at its June 9 meeting, which council and community members commemorated with a photo.
HOOD RIVER — City councilors were visited by representatives of the Somos Inmigrantes (We are Immigrants) steering committee June 9 for the reading of a proclamation encouraging local residents, businesses and other organizations to display the bright yellow “Somos Inmigrantes” signs as a symbol of support.
The proclamation reads, in part, “Now, therefore, be it resolved that the Hood River City Council proclaims Somos Inmigrantes: We are Immigrants and reaffirms its commitment to defend the dignity, safety, and well-being of all of our hardworking, law-abiding immigrants.”
Rev. John Boonstra, Pastor Vicky Stifter, and local activist Maija Yasui gave an update on the campaign and thanked council for issuing the proclamation, “not only for your reaffirmation of values that hold our community together as an inclusive city, but also for the courage you have for speaking out in these times, and in this place, for the safety and security and dignity of all who are victimized by escalating racial and immigrant status discrimination,” as Boonstra said.
The full proclamation.
Image courtesy City of Hood River
“None of us are naïve about the limited legal power of a local government proclamation,” he added, “but all of us are wise enough to know that public declarations are the invitations we need to feel empowerment to organize together around common values and principles.”
Stifter said the campaign began after hearing from people who are afraid to go out. The signs are a way of saying “you don’t stand alone,” she said.
Yasui shared her time with Yuliza Chavez Leon, a Hood River Valley High School 2025 graduate and speaker during the June 6 commencement ceremony.
“Just so you know, someone tried to drown her out at graduation,” Yasui told councilors. “There was a roaring engine of a car trying to drown out her voice. And I wanted you to hear it.”
Chavez Leon introduced herself in English but gave her speech in Spanish — in front of several family members, including her parents, Jose and Theresa — with Yasui providing a translated copy for council to follow:
“I am, and forever will be, the proud daughter of immigrants parents,” she said. “My motivation to go to college, like many of you from an immigrant or Hispanic family, is my parents. My parents came to this country with nothing; regardless, they have managed to work tirelessly to provide me with the life they never had … This diploma is not just mine — it’s yours.”
Jackie Garcia, Hood River local and recent college graduate — the first in her family — also spoke. “I just moved back to work for my community because I know how important it is. This community has raised me,” she said. “And seeing how much support people are trying to raise here is super important … it’s a powerful act of solidarity with everyone in vulnerable positions right now.
“Fear is rising. We see it every day. And more and more people are being targeted for being an immigrant — for looking like me,” she said.
Mayor Paul Blackburn said he’d recently learned that Hood River had been identified by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) as a sanctuary city — one of four in Oregon. The map, published on DHS’ website, was taken down less than 48 hours after it was posted after criticism from the National Sheriff’s Association, as previously reported in Columbia Gorge News.
The city council has not declared Hood River a sanctuary city, but rather an inclusive one. Resolution 2017-02 was adopted on Jan. 23, 2017 (“Inclusive City”) and Resolution 2025-06 on Feb. 24 (“Affirming the City of Hood River as an Inclusive and Welcoming City”).
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