Members of Polk County Folks Together (PCFT) role-play scenarios confronting anti-immigrant agitators at a Human Rights Observer (HRO) Training. Alonso Oliveros
The Trump Administration continues its attacks on the undocumented and documented immigrant communities across Oregon and the United States. These assaults are feeding the private detention system rather than providing health insurance and food assistance to working families. This has been the result of H.R. 1 (aka “The One Big Beautiful Bill”) that shifted federal funds to ramp up the infrastructure and personnel for ICE.
To counter these attacks on our neighbors, AFSC Oregon Project Voice mobilizes allies and community members to train as Human Rights Observers. These HROs support immigrant communities in these dark times, keeping families together and ensuring that migrant families are supported.
HROs serve as community defenders that respond to ICE activities that target immigrant community members through racial profiling. The role is primarily held by those with citizenship or residency status to reduce the risk that they become the targets of ICE agents. We do not discourage those without legal status to participate but let them know that they can become the target of ICE agents.
HROs are not legally trained but have undergone prerequisite training in constitutional Know Your Rights. This training helps them know and document violations of due process procedures that protect all people regardless of immigration status.
With this knowledge, the next step in training is to learn how to safely document ICE actions in public and private settings. This can be as basic as learning what tools to carry for documentation. It can also include more in-depth awareness such as ensuring your vehicles are in good working condition. This lessens the risk of being stopped by law enforcement for minor violations while on patrol.
The most important requirement to serving as a HRO is the emotional intelligence necessary to keep one’s composure. This is a lot easier said than done. Why? It is not easy to bear witness to someone being dragged out of their vehicle and placed in handcuffs by armed and masked men in unmarked vehicles with no identifying law enforcement identification.
When observing this first-hand, most people witnessing such armed vigilantes in masks and a generically labeled ballistic vest would have their “fight or flight” system activated. Remaining calm during these incidents with the human instinct to help someone being victimized is something that takes patience.
It also requires composure and critical thinking at the same time that adrenaline is pumping through their veins and elevating their pulse. Staying calm while taking video recordings and writing notes is a learned action that will ultimately help the victims and their families.
The documentation taken by the HROs is then forwarded to immigration attorneys who can provide legal representation to the victims. Their documentation can potentially be used in court proceedings and must remain “unbiased.” This helps ensure the highest possibility that violations of the victim’s due process may allow for their potential release from ICE custody.
Oregon Project Voice staff along with our partners periodically offer HRO trainings that are not publicly announced due to heightened security and privacy concerns. To request a Know Your Rights or a Human Rights Observer training in your community, please reach out directly to Alonso Oliveros at aoliveros@afsc.org.