Good morning!
Expect a lively meeting of the Salem City Council on Monday when it considers declaring a state of emergency over immigration matters.
The discussion comes as President Donald Trump ramps up immigration enforcement. He reacted to last week’s shooting of two members of West Virginia National Guard. One died and the other remains hospitalized, according to press briefings.
Just days before that shooting, councilors heard impassioned testimony from citizens worried about the impacts on Salem. Others said they supported the immigration sweeps.
Salem Reporter will have a detailed report tomorrow on what such a city declaration would accomplish.
According to the draft, the city “condemns the misuse of immigration enforcement to detain and deport individuals who are lawfully present in the United States and simply exercising their constitutionally protected rights particularly when such actions are politically motivated or conducted without due process.”
The measure also declares that “no matter when someone has joined our community or where they have come from, every person deserves to be free of fear and intimidation and to be treated with dignity and respect.”
Separately, Salem For Refugees, which helps resettle people in the community, issued an alert last week about what’s ahead, including new rounds of federal interviews of refugees. This was before Trump announced his latest actions.
“Refugees are already among the most heavily vetted people admitted to the U.S., often waiting years overseas before arrival,” the organization said in its notice. “This mass re-interview process will create deep anxiety and long delays for families who have been living, working, and going to school here for several years, and it introduces the risk that refugee status could be terminated with very limited avenues for appeal.”
HELP US REPORT: Our team will be reporting on all fronts of this community issue in the coming days. If you have questions or suggestions or know of refugee families who could share their experiences, send me an email: [email protected].
This all comes as the community ramps up for the holiday season. The big kickoff, of course, was Salem’s holiday parade Friday, staged by the Salem Main Street Association.
On Tuesday evening, the Capitol comes alive for the annual tree lighting ceremony – indoors. The event will start with a performance by the Willamette Master Chorus at 5 p.m., followed by the tree lighting at 6 p.m. Then, people can enjoy refreshments until 7 p.m. and take pictures with Santa.
In community news:
•One of our most popular stories in recent days was Hailey Cook’s reporting on the Salem Soup Squad’s meal service at Wallace Marine Park. As Hailey writes: “The chili was gone in under an hour, with dozens of unsheltered people stopping by the tent throughout the day. Many brought their dogs along with them to also enjoy a scoop of chili.”
•Local shelters could use your help as winter weather drives more people in search of a place out of the cold and rain.
•Mayor Julie Hoy’s state petition to change homeless camping laws is advancing. Hoy says she’s acting in her private capacity.
•Vietnam veterans over the holiday week delivered Thanksgiving meals to 250 veterans around Salem.
In local government news:
•A Marion County program aims to help teens break away from gang connections. As Madeleine Moore reports on the leader of the effort: “She works with preteens and teenagers tied to gangs to get them to confront dangerous behavior and relationships. It’s intended to help youth before they’ve been convicted of a serious crime.”
•The Salem City Council isn’t exactly consulting a crystal ball but it is looking into the community’s future.
•How is student attendance at the school near year? Managing Editor Rachel Alexander maps out the numbers for every school.
In public safety reporting:
•State officials have reversed a controversial decision to free inmates early. Several from Marion County were returned to prison last week.
•A local man is in custody, facing charges of setting a south Salem home on fire and trying to rob a business.
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Have thoughts about our reporting? A story we should do? A person we should profile? Or do you have questions about how we do our work? You’re welcome to send me an email – I read every one of them. Email: [email protected].
–Les Zaitz, Editor and owner
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