A Rural County's Shocking Immigration Reality Check

In a surprising turn of events, voters in Oregon's rural Yamhill County, traditionally supportive of Donald Trump, have started to question his immigration policies. The catalyst for this shift was the detention and deportation of Moises Sotelo, a beloved and undocumented Mexican immigrant who has lived in the county for 31 years and owns a vineyard management company. Sotelo's family, including his two American-born children, were deeply rooted in the community, and his arrest sparked an outpouring of support, with over 2,200 people donating to a GoFundMe for the family.

Key Takeaways:

• Moises Sotelo, a 31-year resident of Yamhill County and undocumented Mexican immigrant, was detained and eventually deported after a five-week stay in ICE custody, despite his family's deep roots in the community and his contribution to the local economy.
• Sotelo's case has caused a stir in the county, with over 2,200 people donating to a GoFundMe for the family, raising over $150,000 for legal and other expenses, and neighbors offering support and resources.
• The Trump administration's immigration policies, which prioritize border security and deportation, have sparked widespread concern in communities like Yamhill County, where immigrants and small businesses are integral to the economy.
• The average cost to arrest, detain, and remove an immigrant is $17,121, which would total $17 billion if the administration's goal of one million deportations is achieved, a figure that surpasses the combined budgets of all 50 states for pre-K education.
• A Gallup poll released this month found that only 35% of Americans approve of Trump's handling of immigration, while 62% disapprove, and a record 79% of Americans believe that immigration is good for the United States.
• Experts estimate that mass deportation could cause GDP to be 7.4% lower in 2028 compared to what it would be otherwise, highlighting the potential economic consequences of such a policy.

Statistics:

• The foreign-born share of the US population has tripled since 1970 and now stands at around 15%, with a top estimate of 15.8% constituting the highest level of immigrants in America since at least 1850.
• Over 2,200 people have donated to a GoFundMe for the Sotelo family, raising over $150,000 for legal and other expenses.
• The average cost to arrest, detain, and remove an immigrant is $17,121.
• The Peterson Institute for International Economics estimated that mass deportation could cause GDP in 2028 to be 7.4% lower than it would be otherwise.
• A Gallup poll released this month found that only 35% of Americans approve of Trump's handling of immigration, while 62% disapprove.
• A record 79% of Americans believe that immigration is good for the United States.

Sources:

• The New York Times
• Gallup
• Peterson Institute for International Economics
• ICE (United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement)