Francisco Aguirre is an influential leader in the immigrant rights and labor movements. A long-time Portland resident, he fled El Salvador to escape the military's extreme violence against him and his family. In 2014, ICE agents came to Francisco’s home and tried to arrest him without a warrant and separate him from his family. Francisco sought sanctuary at Augustana Lutheran Church in Portland, Oregon. After he left the church, the Department of Homeland Security began harassing his family. Now he faces years in prison for fleeing his own potential death in El Salvador.
On this episode of Locus Focus we talk with Francisco about the campaign to get the Department of Justice to drop the charges against him, grant Temporary Protected Status to Central American refugees so they aren’t returned to their deaths and stop referring Central Americans for prosecution merely for fleeing violence.