In times of uncertainty, community unity is more important than ever. At the Latino Community Association (LCA), we face challenges related to changes in the Federal administration that may impact essential services for our Latino families and, consequently, their well-being. We want to assure you that we remain vigilant about these developments and committed to ensuring the continuity of our mission and programs.

Our immigration and advocacy team continuously evaluates the impact of executive orders and federal measures, while our fundraising team stays informed about potential funding cuts that could affect key programs such as healthy families, family empowerment and education and workforce training. In all cases, our priority is clear: to continue serving our community without interruption.

We are encouraged by the response from our community, with more volunteers eager to contribute and ongoing commitment from those who already support our work. At LCA, we continue to advocate for access to systems and services that promote the success of the Latino community, reaffirming our commitment to social justice.

Recent actions, such as the executive order seeking to end birthright citizenship for children of undocumented immigrants, have caused fear and uncertainty in our community. We have also seen an increase in ICE activity in Oregon, leading to more detentions and family separations. To help, we are supporting the right to universal legal representation for detained individuals in Central Oregon.

The government has also threatened, but not yet implemented, targeting of asylum seekers. So, our lawyers, working in collaboration with Equity Corps of Oregon and other organizations, are prioritizing helping them work through the application process to try to stay ahead of the threat.

Additionally, access to healthcare benefits through the Oregon Health Plan is at risk, which could discourage many immigrant families from seeking essential services. Since 2022, LCA has facilitated insurance enrollments and navigation clinics through the Community Partner Outreach Program in partnership with PacificSource. Restrictions on these services would directly impact our Healthy Families program. Thanks to our partnership with the Community Health Equity Coalition, we are at the forefront of advocacy efforts to protect these critical programs.

We understand that these changes create concern. That’s why we have compiled lists of mental health services, emotional support, and legal assistance. We invite you to visit our offices in Bend, Madras, Prineville, and Redmond — or our website to access these resources.

As we continue preparing for all possible scenarios, support from the community — whether through volunteering, advocacy, or donations — is essential. Donations strengthen our ability to respond and ensure that our families continue receiving the support they deserve while working toward their dignified integration into Central Oregon. To make a donation visit: www.latinocommunityassociation.org.

We will continue monitoring these changes and assessing their impact. With transparency and commitment, and with your support we will move forward together.

Catalina Sánchez Frank is executive director of the Latino Community Association of Central Oregon and lives in Bend. 

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