Scaling Up Solidarity: A Season of Unprecedented Accompaniment

These past few months have marked the most active time in the history of our Accompaniment Program. Some days, we’ve supported three or more people in one day — a clear reflection of both the immense pressure our migrant communities are facing and the urgency of our response.

We’re currently working hard to secure funding for a third full-time staff member so that we can keep up with this critical momentum. This isn’t just growth — it’s a call to action.

🚗 Training, Traveling, and Building Power

In the last month alone, we’ve conducted three major regional trainings:

• Rapid Response Lane County

• Latino Community Association – Central Oregon

• Unete, Center for Farm Worker Advocacy – Medford

That’s 75+ new trained accompaniers — expanding a statewide transportation network that connects people across Oregon. Local communities are collaborating to make sure no one has to face immigration systems alone, no matter where they live.

This is more than logistics — it’s grassroots organizing. We’re supporting migrant leaders in shaping their accompaniment programs, tailored to the needs of their communities, always centering on migrant leadership, dignity, and power.

✊ Strengthening Our Coalition

Within the Deportation Defense Coalition (DDC), we’re expanding our reach:

• Organized Labor Subcommittee: ILWU Local 5 (IMIrJ’s own union!) ratified a Sanctuary Resolution with nearly 1,000 members, formally committing not to collaborate with ICE and actively supporting rapid response efforts. Now, we’re spreading this resolution to other unions locally and nationally.

• Rapid Response Subcommittee: We're building a living resource hub — a centralized guide where migrant community members can find trustworthy, up-to-date support.

• The DDC continues to grow with new organizers and partner organizations, and we are doubling down on efforts to build broad unity within the coalition.

🎙️ Amplifying Our Message

Recently, we joined Radio Poder to uplift the Accompaniment Program’s impact and highlight the urgent need for collective action. Faith communities are also stepping up through congregational accompaniment, offering their solidarity and presence in this work.

💬 What Comes Next

There’s no denying it: this is a critical moment. Our work is intense. It’s stretching us. But it’s also building something beautiful — a more just, interconnected, and resilient network of accompaniment across Oregon.

With your support, we’ll keep showing up. Keep growing. Keep fighting for dignity, safety, and power in migrant communities.

Let’s keep moving — together.