ACLU: Immigration agents arrested Portland ‘Dreamer’

An undocumented immigrant was arrested by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents at his home in Portland, Ore., early Sunday.

Francisco J. Rodriguez Dominguez was picked up at his southeast Portland home and is being held in a Northwest Detention Center in Tacoma, Wash.

Rodriguez Dominguez is one of a number of undocumented immigrants brought to the U.S. as children who have been arrested despite their enrollment in the 2012 Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program. 

The program, launched under the Obama administration, grants some immigrants brought to the U.S. as children relief from deportation. The program has not been blocked by President Trump’s administration.

{mosads}Under the new administration, though, federal officials are moving to aggressively crack down on illegal immigration, expanding raids and deportations.

A spokesperson with ICE confirmed the arrest to The Hill and on Monday evening confirmed that he had been released on bond. 

“Deportation officers with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) took Mr. Rodriguez into custody March 26. He was targeted for arrest based upon his guilty plea in December to a charge of driving under the influence of intoxicants, an offense ICE deems a threat to public safety,” said ICE spokesperson Rose Richeson.

The American Civil Liberties Union of Oregon said he was arrested without a warrant.

Rodriguez Dominguez arrived in the United States at age 5 from Morelia, Michoacan, Mexico, according to the Oregon ACLU, and works for Latino Network, a community group, helping manage a food pantry for low-income families. 

“We’re all pretty sad and disheartened,” said Lizzie Martinez, the group’s development and communications director. “We believe he is still being detained.” 

The organization is actively calling ICE and lawmakers demanding that Rodriguez Dominguez be released, Martinez said.

She called his arrest “heartbreaking” and said it broke the “2012 promise made to DACA recipients.” 

This story was updated at 9:30 p.m.