Oregon immigrant families have faced a few difficult months. Partners across the state reported new detentions, and families changed their routines almost overnight. Parents shared fear about the walk to school. Some kept their children home because they did not feel safe leaving the house. Latino owned businesses saw fewer customers as many families stayed inside. These shifts reached classrooms, workplaces, and local economies in real time.   

Federal decisions are shaping this moment. H.R. 1 directs $170.7 billion toward enforcement and border operations, including funds to hire 10,000 new ICE officers and $45 billion to build new detention centers, including family detention. These investments influence what Oregon is experiencing. Higher enforcement funding has translated into more activity on the ground, and Oregon is now seeing the early effects. 

Statewide data show at least 329 arrests in October. Another report confirmed more than 30 people detained during one operation in Woodburn on October 30 and more than 200 detentions since the middle of the month. Families described sudden disruptions to daily life, and children carried the emotional impact into their schools. 

H.R. 1 also brought strict changes to SNAP. These changes removed food support for about 3,000 immigrant and refugee Oregonians. This includes working adults, seniors, and families already facing high food costs. Parents told partners they avoided food programs because they worry their information will be shared across systems. This has placed more pressure in homes where children rely on steady meals to stay well. 

These changes reach far beyond SNAP. H.R. 1 restricts Medicaid, CHIP, Medicare, and Marketplace subsidies for refugees, asylees, and other humanitarian immigrants. Adults who lose Medicaid will shift into state funded programs, which adds cost pressure to systems already under strain. Federal agencies have also reclassified programs like Head Start, behavioral health, and family planning as restricted “federal public benefits,” creating confusion for families and providers who depend on these services. 

Refugee communities are facing additional challenges. The suspension of the federal refugee admissions program disrupted arrivals, created uncertainty for families in the resettlement process, and left Oregon agencies without the federal support they rely on. H.R. 1 removes access to key programs that help new arrivals meet basic needs and rebuild their lives. This places added weight on resettlement agencies, faith partners, and community groups who support families through financial hardship and instability after displacement. 

Children face added risks in this environment. Federal authority under H.R. 1 allows agents to examine children for tattoos and markings. Combined with the expansion of detention and limits on humanitarian pathways, these changes raise concerns for the safety and wellbeing of children in immigrant and mixed status households. Oregon has about 44,900 citizen children living with at least one undocumented parent. Fear alone affects a child’s health, development, and stability. 

Throughout the month, OIRA stayed in close contact with ODHS programs, legal service providers, and community partners. Reports were consistent across the state. Higher fear. More requests for legal support. More stress in schools. More financial strain on small businesses. More need for clear information in the languages families use at home. 

Families across Oregon are facing pressure without a clear end point. Federal funding is set. Enforcement activity is rising. Oregon immigrant and refugee families feel unsafe. Schools feel the strain. Businesses feel the hit. Community groups continue to meet urgent needs with limited resources. 

OIRA will continue to track enforcement activity and follow federal policy changes that affect Oregon communities. We will support partners with clear information so families know what they are facing and where to find help. We stay steady. We tell the truth. And we stand with Oregon’s immigrant and refugee families.

With gratitude,

Jessica Ventura