Over two months have passed, and our beloved community leader and day laborer, Jorge Luis, remains unjustly detained at the Northwest Detention Center in Tacoma.
Jorge fled Venezuela seeking safety from political violence and instability. But instead of refuge, he now finds himself locked in a private, for-profit facility known for its inhumane conditions, isolated from the community he calls home.
Since joining Voz in March 2024, Jorge has been an active and beloved member of our community. He completed our Emergency Preparedness Cohort, graduated from an accredited green jobs program, and took part in the national Somos Más Asamblea to uplift the voices of day laborers. Jorge is known for his resilience, deep faith, and unwavering positivity. He’s someone who brings warmth, humor, and heart to every space he’s in.
But on February 20, ICE tore him from our community during an irregular check-in. He was told he simply needed to “sign some papers.” As he has always done throughout his asylum process, Jorge complied. Instead, without warning, he was detained and taken to the Northwest Detention Center.
On March 20, Jorge had his preliminary hearing. His final asylum hearing is now scheduled for September 29, leaving him in a prolonged state of uncertainty, isolation, and fear in a system designed to wear people down.
On April 1, his bond request was denied, just as we feared. The Tacoma Immigration Court has a disturbing pattern of rejecting nearly all bond requests, often claiming it lacks jurisdiction. This practice is now the subject of a class action lawsuit, exposing how the system arbitrarily imprisons people like Jorge with no end in sight.
Jorge’s attorney is appealing the decision, but the process could take four to five months. And time is not on our side. Each day Jorge remains behind bars exposes him to a system where people are routinely disappeared.
Meanwhile, the Trump administration is fighting in court to uphold the use of the Alien Enemies Act - a wartime law now being weaponized to deport Venezuelans. Over 200 people have already been sent to CECOT, El Salvador’s notoriously horrifying and brutal mega-prison, in violation of court orders intended to protect them. Let’s be clear: this is not about national security. It is about criminalizing Venezuelan migrants and denying them the right to safety.
Jorge is not a threat. He is not a flight risk. He is not a statistic. He is a young man of faith, a worker, a big brother, and a beacon of hope for our community. His detention is not only unjust, it is dangerous. It represents the broader weaponization of immigration enforcement to silence, punish, and disappear migrants.
We refuse to let Jorge disappear. We refuse to be silent.
TAKE ACTION TODAY to demand Jorge’s release and fight for justice for all immigrants - because solo el pueblo salva al pueblo.
How to Support:
- Send a Letter: Join Voz and NDLON’s letter-writing campaign to demand that elected officials pressure DHS to release Jorge on bond. It only takes 5 minutes to take action and help bring Jorge home.
- Donate: Contribute to Jorge’s GoFundMe to help cover legal fees and provide financial relief for his family during this difficult time.
Join the Fight: Mobilize for Justice from Portland to Tacoma
As the deportation machine expands and migrant communities are pushed further into the margins, we’re rising up together. Voz and our partners are organizing a series of regional actions to uplift Jorge Luis’s case and demand the release of all detained workers. From Portland to Tacoma, join us in building collective power from the ground up.
April 28 – Día del Trabajador Caído | Portland, OR
Migrant workers risk their lives every day - doing the hardest jobs with the fewest protections. Too many have died on the job. Too many more are criminalized for surviving, organizing, or speaking up.
On Monday, April 28, we gather as a migrant community to remember our fallen, build solidarity, and prepare for the fights ahead. This is a space of healing, art, safety, and power, organized by Voz, IMA PDX, and Migrante Portland. We’ll create banners and posters for May Day, participate in Know Your Rights and safety trainings, and recommit ourselves to collective action.
📍 Voz Worker Center: 3575 NE Broadway Street, Portland, OR, 97232
- Register here!
- Flyers: English, Spanish
May 1 – International Workers Day | Salem, OR
¡Trabajo Sí, Migra No! ¡Fuera ICE! ¡Fuera MAGA!
On Wednesday, May 1, we caravan to the State Capitol to join PCUN and allied organizations in the fight for dignity, justice, and worker power. We’ll lift up the stories of workers like Jorge Luis, and all those facing detention and deportation. Voz and IMA will host a booth to share resources, stories, and vision.
📍 Oregon State Capitol, Salem
May 31 – Action at Northwest Detention Center | Tacoma, WA
The Trump administration and ICE have made their intentions clear: to disappear our people, silence our voices, and criminalize our survival. They won’t stop, unless we stop them.
On Saturday, May 31, we’ll mobilize outside the Northwest Detention Center (NWDC) in Tacoma for a powerful regional action. This is more than a protest - it’s a collective demand for freedom, dignity, and liberation. We’ll uplift the voices of those inside and demand justice for Jorge Luis, Lelo Juarez, Aunty Lynn, Ate M., and all detained members of our communities.
This action is organized by Voz, IMA PDX, Migrante Portland, and La Resistencia, with support from NDLON and the Somos Más Comités del Barrio. A caravan will depart from Portland to join the action in Tacoma. Details coming soon!
📍 Northwest Detention Center, Tacoma
- Register here!
- Flyers: English, Spanish
Let’s rise up and send a message loud and clear: We will not be silenced. Our community is not alone. Solo el pueblo salva al pueblo.
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P.S. You can read more about Jorge’s story in Newsweek and The Guardian. These articles highlight the injustice he’s facing and the urgent need for action.