THE DALLES — Concerned community members showed up in droves to The Dalles City Council meeting on Dec. 8, nearly overflowing the council chamber. Many attendees, either representing or supporting the city’s robust Latino community, expressed heartache and anxiety over recent U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) action in town.
On Nov. 30, three masked federal agents entered The Home Depot on W. Sixth Street and forcefully detained a customer. The following day, hundreds of people gathered outside the establishment to condemn the act, reflective of both a statewide and local uptick in immigration enforcement after President Donald Trump directed more officers to the Pacific Northwest months ago, as reported by Columbia Gorge News.
Community pushes back
During public comment, Yamilet Muratalla, an English Language Learner (ELL) assistant within the North Wasco County School District, revealed that the individual detained by ICE was her father — which disrupted her family’s mental health and well-being.
“My little brother is scared to go to school, we’re scared of every car that drives by and I’m scared for my mother,” Muratalla said, fighting back tears. “Every time I open social media, there’s a hateful comment towards my dad, our family.”
Also present was second-grade teacher Destin Ramsey, who witnessed and filmed the Home Depot arrest alongside his 5-year-old daughter. “It was traumatic for her,” Ramsey said. “She was screaming, and I had to explain why I wouldn’t also get taken away. That’s problematic, guys. Is this the kind of thing we want in our community?”
Janet Hamada, executive director of the social service The Next Door Inc., explained how ICE has spread fear and anxiety throughout the community. “With every person who is picked up by a masked, unidentified gunman, a family is left behind,” Hamada said. “Children are scarred, and remaining adults become too apprehensive to leave their homes.”
More Latino youth are shopping for their parents because no one else feels safe doing so, she said, further noting that a higher percentage of students are missing school because they’re afraid to leave family members home alone. Recognizing the city’s lack of authority over federal actions, Hamada encouraged council members to leverage their influence by issuing a statement in support of immigrant families.
Next, Elda Dorado and her translator, Nubia Contreras, took the mic. Dorado immigrated to The Dalles 34 years ago and serves as a full-time elementary educator while working part-time in the cherry industry. Now a naturalized citizen, she expressed how difficult it is to navigate the immigration system and warned council members that, if ICE activity continues or intensifies, people may no longer travel to The Dalles for migratory work, which could adversely damage local businesses, the economy and the community at large.
“ICE has taken on new and alarming tactics. Even with the previous Trump administration, we didn’t see this kind of physical removal of people from local businesses and streets,” she said. “I’ve personally driven people to work and done grocery shopping for families afraid to leave their homes, even if they have their green cards or legal status.”
A proud family member of a hard-working immigrant, Sofia Urenda then broke down in tears. Born in the U.S., she carries her passport out of fear of being racially profiled, and described the division ICE has brought in the community, both in person and online.
“Peaceful protests have brought out the worst in our neighbors,” Urenda said. “They will flip us off, yell hatred, and worse, hide behind screens laughing at the pain of others.”
Urenda thanked the council, which limited its response until the last speaker returned to their seat. “All of you in front of me are showing you are willing to listen,” she said. “What are the steps you are willing to take to make sure no unlawful arrests happen here in The Dalles?”
Omar Perez, a volunteer with Latinos Unidos The Dalles, urged the council to break its silence on the matter, which he said has only worsened isolation and distress among local Latinos.
“It’s important to recognize that The Dalles has been built and sustained with the help of immigrants,” Perez said. “These families deserve to know that their city recognizes their hardship, values and presence and stands prepared to support them in times of need.”
Perez laid out a series of actions the council can take, thereby opening a constructive dialogue between council members and the Latino community:
1. Issue a public acknowledgment that these incidents are occurring and commit to a coordinated city response.
2. Convene a meeting between city leadership, community organizations and service providers to establish clear procedures and points of contact for families affected by these attentions.
3. Develop a comprehensive response plan that includes emergency protocols for minors, coordinated communication strategies, resource guidance and explicit expectations for trauma-informed conduct by responding officers.
Lastly, in a letter read by City Manager Matthew Klebes, Chenowith Elementary School Principal Ajay Rondell urged the council to issue a proclamation confirming The Dalles as an inclusive and welcoming community for all residents, regardless of immigration status. “This is not symbolic work,” Rondell wrote. “It is a necessary and immediate step to protect the emotional safety and well-being of hundreds of families who call The Dalles home.”
The council responds
Councilor Dan Richardson spearheaded the response, exhibiting strong support for those in the audience and denouncing ICE’s approach. He was the only member to offer a substantial perspective on the matter.
“I hear your concerns, your fears and your thoughts,” Richardson said. “I’m frustrated that there’s not an obvious solution that the city can create, but there might be an appropriate response.”
Richardson told his peers, some of whom he implied might disagree with him, that the issue isn’t solely political but a real-world, on-the-ground problem affecting their neighbors.
“Even for people that transgress the law, we insist that the police follow a process, that they treat people with dignity … that is not happening, and I’m not okay with it,” Richardson said. “We have seen goon squads out there snatching people. I don’t think we can turn away from that. I don’t think that’s the best of America.”
Although not typically in favor of city proclamations, he said, Richardson found the severity of the situation worthy of their input. “I think it behooves us to seriously consider making a statement, making it clear to as many people in our town that we hear them and we’re on their side,” he said.
Mayor Rich Mays set Jan. 5 as a reasonable target date for the council to circle back on the issue, allowing officials time to educate themselves further and engage in open dialogue with the community before issuing a formal response.
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