Portland observer., September 24, 2014, Page 5, Image 5

September 24, 2014
Northeast
Church
Protects
Rights
Advocate
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Francisco Aguirre, coordinator of Portland's Voz Work
x
ers Rights Education Project, is surrounded by a
, group of supporters at a local church as fights depor-
™ tation. (AP photo)
Given sanctuary
as authorities try
to deport him
(AP) — A community activist
who first came to the U.S. from El
Salvador nearly two decades ago
spent the weekend hidden in a Port­
land church, becoming the latest
immigrant to seek sanctuary as au­
thorities try to deport him.
Francisco Aguirre, who has lived
illegally in the U.S. for 19 years and
has two children who are American
citizens, is facing deportation due
to a drug trafficking conviction 15
years ago and a previous deporta­
tion, authorities said.
Aguirre, 35, is now the coordina­
tor of the Voz Workers' Rights Edu­
cation Project, a Portland nonprofit
that runs a day labor center. He’s a
well-known immigrant rights orga­
nizer and a musician who performs
songs about social justice.
His case marks the first time in
recent years that an immigrant has
been granted sanctuary inside an
Oregon church. During the past
decade, as reform has stalled,
churches around the country have
offered refuge to immigrants who
lack legal status.
Experts estimate about 300 con­
gregations nationwide are willing and
ready to give sanctuary to such immi­
grants. Immigration officials gener­
ally do not arrest people inside
churches and other places of wor­
ship.
Aguirre has vowed to remain at
A ugustana Lutheran Church in
northeast Portland until he's able to
resolve his immigration case.
His immigration lawyer Stephen
Manning says Aguirre is in the pro­
cess of obtaining a U-visa, a special
document for crime victims who help
authorities investigate or prosecute
cases.
Aguirre says he first entered the
U.S. illegally in 1995. He worked as a
day laborer and helped found the
nonprofit group that operates the
day labor center. Aguirre also runs a
computer repair business from his
home.
The U.S. Immigration and Cus­
toms Enforcement said Aguirre was
deported to El Salvador in 2000 fol­
lowing a conviction for drug traffick­
ing offenses. He then unlawfully re­
entered the country, spokesman
continued
on page 6
Page 5
h te 4 i t Movement for
lrm ig ra n t Justice
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