BEND, Ore. – A recent wave of confusion and anxiety swept through Central Oregon when rumors spread on social media that federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents were conducting raids in the area. The rumors, which quickly escalated, were confirmed when an immigrant from Bend, Ariel Manzanerez, was detained by ICE agents earlier this week. His family, who has since shared their story, says they were initially shocked to find themselves caught in the midst of an enforcement action in their small community.
According to a family member, who chose to remain anonymous, the initial response was one of disbelief. “At first, we weren’t really worried, because we never really thought that it could happen in our small community—until it happened to us,” the family member said.
Manzanerez, originally from Nicaragua, was seeking political asylum in the United States. He had immigrated in 2020, received a work permit in Arizona, and eventually moved to Bend, where he ran a small business. The family claims that he had always complied with immigration protocols, attending all required appointments with ICE, and had no criminal history.
On the afternoon of the detention, Manzanerez’s family received a phone call from him at 1:56 p.m., informing them that he had been detained by ICE officers. The family asserts that he was approached by an ICE agent in plain clothes while parked at a Safeway in Bend. A photo posted on social media showed what appeared to be an unmarked vehicle with agents present, further sparking concern in the community.
The situation reflects broader national trends, as ICE enforcement operations continue to ramp up under the administration’s push for stricter immigration control. A key element of the crackdown has been the detention of individuals with criminal backgrounds, though reports from sources like former ICE director Tom Homan suggest that even those without criminal records can face arrests. Homan had previously remarked on CNN, “When in sanctuary cities, you’re going to see a higher number of collateral arrests. If they’re in the country illegally, they’re going to get arrested, too.”
Oregon, a sanctuary state, has laws designed to protect immigrants from local law enforcement involvement in federal immigration actions. This policy, however, does not prevent federal agents from carrying out arrests independently.
Manzanerez’s case has raised concerns among the Latino community in Central Oregon, which has grown increasingly uneasy as federal immigration enforcement intensifies. “The message that I’m trying to push out is stay informed and be well-behaved, and show this country that they need us, like it or not,” the family member continued. “Because without us, they are nothing.”
Currently, Manzanerez is being held at the Pacific Northwest Processing Center in Tacoma, Washington, awaiting deportation proceedings. His family has announced that they are pursuing legal action, seeking to challenge the detention and prevent his deportation.
As the case unfolds, many in Bend’s immigrant community remain on edge, uncertain of what future ICE operations may bring. In a time of heightened enforcement, the uncertainty has cast a shadow over the safety and security of individuals who have, until now, felt secure in their local communities.
This incident serves as a reminder of the complicated and often conflicting views surrounding immigration policy in the United States, as well as the personal toll it can take on individuals and families navigating an already complicated system.
