Central Oregon Latinos Urge Legislature to Protect Immigrant Communities

The Latino Community Association will advocate for the Immigrant Justice Package in Salem this week.

Published on Feb. 12, 2026

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The Latino Community Association (LCA) will travel to Salem, Oregon this week to meet with state legislators and encourage them to vote for the Immigrant Justice Package (IJP), which includes several bills aimed at protecting immigrant communities in the state. LCA employees and board members will voice the concerns of Central Oregon's Latino population amid ongoing ICE raids.

Why it matters

Oregon was the first state to pass a sanctuary law in 1987, barring local law enforcement from participating in federal immigration enforcement. The LCA is now joining a coalition of organizations to urge lawmakers to continue upholding fair treatment for immigrant Oregonians as the state legislature considers the IJP.

The details

The IJP includes bills such as Universal Representation (ECO), the Protect Your Doors Act, the Law Enforcement Accountability and Visibility Act (LEAVA), Anti-Discrimination Protections, and funding for anti-hunger programs. LCA, which has served as a vital resource for Latino and immigrant communities in Central Oregon since 2000, will travel by van to Salem to meet with legislators and advocate for the passage of these bills.

  • The LCA employees and board members will travel to Salem on Feb. 12, 2026 to meet with state legislators.
  • Oregon passed the first sanctuary law in the nation in 1987, barring local law officers from participating in federal immigration enforcement.

The players

Latino Community Association (LCA)

A non-profit organization that has served as a vital resource for the Latino and immigrant communities across Central Oregon since 2000, providing services such as immigration legal assistance, workforce education, and healthcare navigation.

Immigrant Justice Package (IJP)

A legislative package in the Oregon Legislature that includes several bills aimed at protecting immigrant communities in the state, such as Universal Representation (ECO), the Protect Your Doors Act, the Law Enforcement Accountability and Visibility Act (LEAVA), Anti-Discrimination Protections, and funding for anti-hunger programs.

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The takeaway

This advocacy effort by the Latino Community Association highlights the ongoing efforts to protect immigrant communities in Oregon, even as the state faces challenges such as ICE raids. The Immigrant Justice Package represents an important legislative opportunity to uphold the state's longstanding commitment to fair treatment for immigrant residents.