Fear of ICE arrests brings cancelations, low turnout at Portland Expo Center event

PORTLAND, ore. (KOIN) — Federal immigration agents are first in line for most of the country, and no one is more affected than the Hispanic population.

As immigration arrests increase in Oregon, Governor Tina Kotek says people are afraid to go to work or school and seek medical care.

More than 3,000 guests shopped from 50 different vendors at last year’s annual Tacos, Tequila and Tamales festival at the Expo Center.

However, this year only 30 vendors showed up. Those who canceled told organizers they were afraid of Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Guest attendance was also poor; There weren’t as many Latino families compared to last year.

Gina Arroyo, owner of Anahi’s Tamales & Tacos, told KOIN 6 News it’s an issue that now affects her business year-round.

“Last year we had so many vendors we couldn’t even walk the aisles,” Arroyo said.

He lost three employees who he said were now too scared to leave their homes to come to work.

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Proceeds from the event go to Latino Leadership NW, a nonprofit organization that supports young Latino students.

“Many people called and said: [to] cancel, ‘We don’t want to devastate our families, we don’t want to put our students in a hurtful, hurtful situation,’ said Diana Avalos-Leos, Executive Director of Latino Leadership NW. ‘Last year there was more involvement from likely Latino families, right? We saw mothers, fathers, grandmothers and little babies in strollers. And this year we can’t see, we can’t see our families.”

Avalos-Leos said fewer customers coming to festivals like this have a negative impact on local businesses.

“I don’t know anything about presidents, I don’t know anything about politics. But I wish we had a safer life, if people weren’t afraid, if my workers could come, if everyone could come and help, you know, for these hateful things to stop,” Arroyo said.

Jewelry store owner Diana Perez shared the impact the incident had on her mental health.

“I have nightmares,” he said. “I wake up breathing heavily and panicking, and sometimes I lose it. I break down.”

Live artists from various schools were also set to perform at Sunday’s event. However, the organizers said they also canceled the event due to fear of deportation.

Other vendors told KOIN 6 News their friends and family members are too afraid to go to school and work, and that fear is affecting the local economy and education. They also wish to see more support from the community and local legislators.

Organizers said they are unsure if they will be able to host the event next year, but vendors like Arroyo and others still hold out hope that the festival can thrive again.

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