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PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — A local teen has gone viral after an emotional appearance at a Hillsboro City Council meeting, in which he called on the local government to take action after a string of immigration detentions.
Sixteen-year-old Manny Chavez told KOIN 6 News he wasn’t planning on speaking at the Tuesday meeting. Initially, he went to support two of his friends from his soccer team whose relatives had been detained by ICE agents.
But after hearing their testimony, he felt compelled to speak.
What followed was Chavez pleading with the city councilors to support his community.
He says his mom has her own small business and pays taxes, but he fears for his entire family.
“I’m scared for my parents to walk out there, to walk out of their house. Because I might not be able to say goodbye to them if they go to work,” Chavez testified. “I might not ever be able to say bye or see them again. If you guys are on the side with those — and I’m scared because of it, because they fought so hard to come here and choose a life for their kids.”
Now, he is speaking out about the recognition he’s received since video of his testimony was posted online earlier this week.
Watch Manny’s full Hillsboro City Council testimony in the video below:
“I was just worried about everyone afterwards because ICE is just going for whoever they want at this point, even if they’re citizens, they’re going for whoever fits the brown description,” Chavez told KOIN 6 News. “Sounds like maybe I should have not put my face out there. Maybe I regret getting so big, because now I’m a target or something like that.”
During the month of October, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents have detained more than 300 people in the state, according to the Innovation Law Lab.
Chavez, a high school junior, is now using his newfound fame to try to raise money for his community impacted by ICE through a GoFundMe account that has raised nearly $12,000 as of Sunday afternoon.
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Ariel Salk
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