PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — Two vineyard workers in Newberg, Oregon, were arrested Thursday in what U.S. Representative Andrea Salinas described as targeted immigration enforcement operations by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
Salinas, a Democrat representing Oregon’s 6th Congressional District, confirmed the arrests in a public statement and pledged to ensure the detained individuals’ right to due process is upheld.
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- 1 Family Identifies One of the Detainees as Moises Sotelo
- 2 Public Response and Protest
- 3 National Context
“There were two targeted ICE arrests of vineyard workers in Newberg,” Salinas said. “As part of my Congressional duty, I am meeting with ICE to ensure they maintain the right to due process for all detained individuals. I have also spoken at length with Latino leaders in the community to ensure individuals know their rights and how I can support them.”
Family Identifies One of the Detainees as Moises Sotelo
While ICE has not released the names of the individuals arrested, family members identified one of them as Moises Sotelo, a longtime figure in Oregon’s wine industry.
According to Alondra Sotelo Garcia, Moises’ daughter, her father disappeared Thursday morning. His truck was left misparked on a street he drives daily — a signal to Alondra that something was wrong. After using her phone to track his location, she discovered he was at the ICE detention center in Portland.
“I just saw my dad chained at his feet, you know, with a big old smile, still trying to keep his head up for me,” Alondra said emotionally, recalling their brief reunion at the facility.
Moises, who has spent over two decades working in Oregon’s wine country, recently launched his own vineyard support business after winning multiple awards in the industry. His family described him as a hardworking, tax-paying man who is deeply embedded in the community.
Public Response and Protest
Outside the Portland ICE facility, where protesters have gathered for days in response to recent federal immigration actions, a large sign now reads: “Free Moises.”
The emotional toll of the arrest was compounded when, during an interview with KOIN 6 News, Alondra received a phone notification showing her father was being moved—northbound on I-5 toward Tacoma, Washington.
“This is news to me,” she said in real-time.
Alondra declined to discuss the specifics of her father’s immigration status, citing the complexity and length of the legal process. But she emphasized the broader implications of the arrest.
“Just for being brown, even if you’re a citizen, you’re still at risk,” she said.
National Context
The Newberg arrests come amid growing protests across the U.S., including in Portland, as the federal government ramps up immigration enforcement raids nationwide. Advocacy groups and elected officials are raising concerns about the impact on families, communities, and due process protections.
Congresswoman Salinas has vowed continued involvement in the case and emphasized the importance of educating the public about their rights during encounters with federal immigration agents.
