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About East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 28, 2017)
East Oregonian Page 11A OFF PAGE ONE CAPITOL: Legislature will hire outside ICE says Oregon officers showed ‘great restraint’ in videoed incidents consultant to examine its personnel policies Saturday, October 28, 2017 Continued from 1A By RYAN HAAS Oregon Public Broadcasting Federal immigration officials responded Thursday to Oregon lawmakers concerned about a pair of attempted arrests that took place in recent months. The letter from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Assistant Director Raymond Kovacic came in response from concerns lodged by Oregon Reps. Suzanne Bonamici and Earl Blumenauer. Both Portland-area Democrats said they were concerned about two inci- dents involving ICE agents: a Sept. 18 interaction outside a Washington County court- house and an Oct. 20 arrest inside a Portland area home. Bonamici and Blume- nauer said it appeared in videos that ICE officers failed to identify themselves or procure proper warrants. The lawmakers expressed concern the potential viola- tion of constitutional rights could “undermine public confidence in the integrity of the agency.” In his letter Thursday, Kovacic defended the ICE agents involved and said they followed agency policy. “Any recording that failed to capture the beginning of the encounter when officer self-identification took place should not be relied upon,” the assistant director wrote. In video of the Sept. 18 incident in Washington County, several plainclothes agents approach Isidro Andrade-Tafolla, who is Latino and a longtime county employee. The agents repeatedly ask Andrade-Tafolla for iden- tification while comparing him to a picture on their cellphones. Bystanders ask the agents for identification, but they refuse and insist AP Photo/LM Otero In this photo made Thursday, March 6, 2015, U.S. Im- migration and Customs Enforcement agents enter an apartment complex during an early morning operation in Dallas. Portland-area Democrats said they were con- cerned about two incidents in Oregon involving ICE agents. Andrade-Tafolla is the person in the picture. When another ICE agent arrives on the scene and realizes the Forest Grove resident is not the person they are looking for, the group quickly leaves. Kovacic wrote that the video doesn’t show the whole encounter but “does serve to illustrate the hostile environ- ment that ICE officers must confront every day.” “In spite of being verbally abused, ICE officers demon- strated great restraint and professionalism throughout the encounter,” he wrote. Kovacic also said the officers did not target Andrade-Tafolla based upon his ethnicity. “Though we appreciate ICE acknowledging our letter, the response is highly contradictory,” Bonamici and Blumenauer wrote. “If the two Oregon incidents are under review, how can ICE also conclude that officers followed all policies and procedures?” Kovacic does not directly respond to questions surrounding the Oct. 20 arrest of Carlos Bolanos, who was later released without charge. In that encounter, the person filming the video — George Cardenas — repeat- edly asks the ICE agents why they are in the home without a warrant, a seeming viola- tion of Fourth Amendment protections. The Democrats wrote that Oregonians are “deeply concerned by these aggres- sive actions,”and that ICE should be held accountable if there was wrongdoing. Kovacic said ICE agents are up-to-date on constitu- tional rights. “ICE officers participate in mandatory bi-annual Fourth Amendment training,” wrote Kovacic, “as well as refresher training prior to participating in large- scale enforcement actions.” The ACLU of Oregon called ICE’s letter “alarming.” “It suggests that they are not prepared to do anything differently or take account- ability for these violations,” ACLU of Oregon Legal Director Mat dos Santos said in a statement. “They have not even apologized to Mr. Andrade-Tafolla and his wife for unfairly profiling, detaining, and questioning them over a month ago.” unwanted advances. About 150 women signed the Cali- fornia letter. Circulation of the Oregon letter follows accusations by Sen. Sara Gelser, D-Cor- vallis, and another unnamed female senator earlier this month that Sen. Jeff Kruse, R-Roseburg, repeatedly inappropriately touched them. Kruse has denied the allegations to at least two Oregon newspapers. Gelser’s revelation has sparked other women who work at the Oregon Capitol to come forward with other instances of subtle sexism and harassment, as reported Wednesday by Oregon Public Broadcasting. The letter urges lawmakers and others at the Capitol “to create a culture where it is expected that people (both men and women) will speak up when it is happening in front of them, and ensure that it is safe to report it when it happens in private.” The Legislature will hire an outside consultant to examine its personnel policies, the House Majority office confirmed Friday. Women who signed the letter include existing and former Democrat and Repub- lican lawmakers, legislative staffers and lobbyists. “Changing the culture of any institution starts at the top and that’s ultimately what this letter is about,” Williamson said. “We are committed, as a bipartisan group, to improving the culture of the Capitol and ensuring that it is a positive work environment for everyone. That starts by ensuring individuals feel empowered to come forward with issues. This isn’t about politics – it’s about making this institution better.” Rep. Julie Parrish, who signed the letter, said she hopes the letter sparks dialogue about incidents that have stayed largely private until now. “Oregon has a larger segment of elected women than other states — and in recent years, we have seen an uptick in female lobbyists, but politics is still a male-driven industry,” said Parrish, a Republican from West Linn. A reminder to respect boundaries is “a good check for everybody,” she said. “Every woman’s threshold for what she thinks is appro- priate or inappropriate is going to be different, but hey, if she says no, back off, listen to her. She means it.” Senate President Peter Courtney, D-Salem, imposed “unprecedented” sanctions against Kruse Oct. 20, in response to the allegations that Kruse continued to touch Seattle judge blocks states’ challenge to travel ban SEATTLE (AP) — A federal judge in Seattle has put on hold a challenge by Washington and several other states to the Trump administration’s latest travel ban. U.S. District Judge James Robart, who blocked the initial ban on travelers from several predominantly Muslim nations early this year, noted in his decision Friday that the latest iteration has already been blocked by federal courts in Hawaii and Maryland. Because the issues raised there are similar to the ones raised by Washington, Oregon, Maryland, Massa- chusetts, New York and California in the Seattle case, he said those challenges should play out before the Seattle case proceeds. Community Forum P HONAK D IRECT We need to hear from you about Mental Health C ONNECTIVITY H EARING A IDS Phonak direct connectivity hearing aids offer universal connectivity to any cell phone* regardless of the brand or operating system. With direct connectivity hearing aids, Phonak offers a solution that provides true hands-free functionality just like a Bluetooth® wireless headset. The hearing aids utilize it’s built-in microphones to pick up the clients voice for phone calls. A call can be heard ringing directly in the hearing aids and with a simple push of a button, can be answered or rejected. This can be done at distance from the telephone e.g. while a client is positioned on the other side of a room. This Event is FREE Thursday • November 2nd • 2017 6:30 to 8:00 PM at Blue Mountain Community College Room ST 200 • 2411 NW Caden Ave. • Pendleton GO TO: http://bit.ly/2y0Gw3e This 90 minute planning session will focus on patient’s experiences with the current system of care and how we can improve these services! Free Bus Transportation will be provided through KAYAK • details at http://bit.ly/2y0Gw3e Project Collaborators Direct connectivity also extends to media playing with automatic connectivity to any TV or stereo system through a new and compact, multimedia hub called TV Connector. It delivers excellent stereo sound quality up to 15m away and does not require any additional streaming device. Lifeways, Inc • Blue Mountain Community College Oregon Washington Health Network • CHI St. Anthony Hospital and Yellowhawk Tribal Health Center With Phonak direct connectivity hearing aids, clients can enjoy the freedom of universal connectivity RENATA ANDERSON M.A. 2237 Southwest • Court Place Pendleton, OR 97801 541-276-5053 The Trump admin- istration announced the most recent restrictions in September. They affect citi- zens of Chad, Iran, Libya, North Korea, Somalia, Syria, and Yemen — and some Venezuelan govern- ment officials and their families. A hearing in the Seattle case had been set for Monday. BEHAVIORAL HEALTH I NTRODUCING • Direct connectivity to any cell phone * • Hearing aids used as a wireless head- set for hands-free calls • Excellent TV sound quality1 with hearing aids turned into wireless TV headphones the two senators after he was asked not to. As punishment for that and for Kruse’s habit of smoking inside the Capitol building, Courtney ordered the removal of Kruse’s office door and stripped him of his committee assignments, which weakens his power to influence legislation. The door was removed early Friday. Gelser first hinted at the allegations in a tweet in which she asked a Repub- lican Senate aide if he would ensure members of his caucus don’t inappropriately touch or grope female lawmakers or staff in the Capitol. Gelser made an informal complaint that Kruse had touched her inappropriately in March 2016. At that time, Courtney followed protocol and reported the allegation to Legislative Counsel Dexter Johnson and Employee Services Manager Lore Christopher. Johnson and Christopher told Kruse to stop touching women at work, Courtney’s letter stated. Gelser told The Oregonian that Kruse’s behavior didn’t stop. Courtney also has reported the latest accusa- tions by Gelser and the other female senator to Legislative Counsel and Employee Services, and those offices are conducting a fact-finding inquiry. For additional information contact Blue Mountain Community College at 541-278-5969 For more information, call 1-800-962-2819 2x3 EXAMPLE Celebrate your loved ones in our VETERANS DAY TRIBUTE We are so proud of you for serving your country. Free Example: Honoring those who have served and those who are currently serving our country! They’ve served our country with courage and honor. They’ve left behind loved ones to risk their lives while protecting our country. They’ve defended our freedoms and ideals. They make us proud to be Americans. Help us honor them. SALUTE E 1x4 EXAMPLE Love Evelyn, We are so Joe proud and of you Cheryl for serving J OSEPH S MITH your country. J OSEPH B. D AVIS Staff Sergeant Joel Davis US Marines Veteran This special section will print in the Hermiston Herald on Nov. 8 and in the East Oregonian on Nov. 11, 2017. There is NO CHARGE to be included. Bring us or send in photos of servicemen, servicewomen or veterans, along with the information in the form to the right, by November 2. Thank you for your service! Love Evelyn, Joe and Cheryl If you’d like to purchase a larger space to include a special message, border, flags, or stars and stripes, rates are $40 for a 1x4” space or $55 for a 2x3” space. Private party only. Please call 1-800-962-2819. Love always Marcy, Julie & Emily Service Person’s Name Military Branch Your Name Your Address Your Phone Number Military Rank Currently Serving Veteran (Check One) Deliver to: East Oregonian 211 SE Byers Ave. Pendleton, OR 97801 Hermiston Herald 333 E. Main. Hermiston, OR 97830 or e-mail to classifieds@eastoregonian.com
