(WOODBURN, OREGON) Four Guatemalan blueberry pickers were detained by ICE around sunrise on August 7, 2025, near Woodburn, in a targeted stop that lawyers and farmworker advocates say is shaking Oregon’s harvest.
Attorneys report blocked access to the detainees and fear they were quickly moved to Washington, raising urgent questions about legal rights, worker safety, and the stability of the state’s berry industry.
What happened on August 7
- Time and place: Around 6 a.m. on August 7, 2025, ICE agents stopped a van in Marion County as workers traveled from Woodburn to Canby for blueberry picking.
- Who was detained: Four farmworkers—three men and one woman—were detained. All are from Guatemala and live in Woodburn. One, listed in court papers as “L-J-P-L,” is a 25-year-old asylum seeker who fled after his brother was killed. The group mainly speaks Mam, an Indigenous language.
- Others in the van: Three other passengers—two women and a young girl—were not detained. Advocates say it’s still unclear why ICE targeted only four people.
- Use of force: Attorneys say agents broke the driver-side window during the stop.
Access to attorneys and transfer concerns
Lawyers with Innovation Law Lab say they struggled to reach their clients at the Portland ICE office and believe the four were moved to the Northwest ICE Processing Center in Tacoma, Washington, very soon after arrest.
Advocates allege ICE is denying attorney access, which they say is a legal right. They are filing court documents and pushing for urgent meetings.
Families say the quick transfer cut off contact, adding stress for children and spouses left in Woodburn. The language barrier is compounding the problem: Mam interpreters are limited, and delays can lead to missed deadlines or harmful misunderstandings.
For relatives trying to confirm custody or location, the official ICE Detainee Locator is available at https://locator.ice.gov.
Important: Advocates warn that rapid transfers and lack of language access can make legal representation and family contact much harder—potentially affecting case outcomes.
A pattern under President Trump’s renewed enforcement push
Local groups say the arrests match a broader pattern of stepped-up enforcement under the second administration of President Trump, which began in January 2025.
They point to the June 2025 detention and deportation of Newberg vineyard owner Moises Sotelo, who had only minor traffic violations, as an example of the reach and speed of recent operations. VisaVerge.com reports that these operations have grown in visibility and scope since late 2024, adding pressure on families with mixed immigration status across the region.
Community impact in Woodburn and beyond
PCUN (Pineros y Campesinos Unidos del Noroeste), Oregon’s leading farmworker advocacy group, calls this the largest ICE action in the mid-valley farmlands this summer. Their hotline has seen a surge in calls from anxious workers.
Many workers are now limiting outings to essential needs only—work, groceries, school—and avoiding carpools or public gatherings. Leaders say fear is keeping people home, and that means crews are coming up short at the exact moment berries must be picked.
Farmers are worried as well. Unger Farms and other growers warn that sustained labor gaps could:
– cause fruit to rot on the bushes,
– push up consumer prices,
– damage long-term business plans.
The Oregon Farm Bureau cautions that a weak labor pipeline during peak season can ripple through food supply chains beyond the state.
Why blueberries matter to Oregon
- Scale: Oregon produces more than 276 million pounds of berries each year across about 20,000 acres; blueberries are a flagship crop and a key export.
- Workforce vulnerability: Advocates estimate up to one-third of agricultural workers in Oregon may lack legal status, making them especially vulnerable during enforcement actions.
- Timing sensitivity: Blueberry harvest is short and time-sensitive. Missed days often mean lost fruit and lost income for workers and growers alike.
Legal and advocacy response
- Innovation Law Lab is representing the detained workers and pushing for immediate access to clients they believe are in Tacoma.
- PCUN is providing legal referrals, community support, and safety planning for families affected by the arrests.
- Advocates say they will challenge any denial of attorney access and seek clarity about ICE’s targeting criteria.
ICE has not responded to media requests for comment on the criteria used in the Woodburn stop as of August 9, 2025.
What workers and families can do right now
- Document everything: Names, dates, times, locations, badge numbers, and any witnesses. This helps lawyers act fast.
- Seek help promptly: Contact PCUN (pcun.org) and Innovation Law Lab (innovationlawlab.org) for support, including language access for Mam speakers.
- Plan communication: Agree on check-in times, keep charging cords ready, and write down key phone numbers on paper for family and neighbors.
- Know your rights: Advocates stress that people in custody should be able to reach an attorney. Keep emergency contacts handy and tell family where important papers are kept.
Voices around the state
- Farmworker advocates: Say the Woodburn action is creating a chilling effect that keeps people from fields, clinics, and schools.
- Farm owners: Fear a shrinking labor pool will jeopardize the 2025 harvest and future contracts.
- Legal experts: Warn that blocking attorney access can violate detainees’ rights and trigger legal challenges.
- Agricultural economists: Caution that missed harvest windows can lead to shortages and higher prices, felt far beyond Oregon.
Policy backdrop and what’s next
Advocates say enforcement in Oregon has grown since the November 2024 election and the start of President Trump’s renewed priorities. The arrests of the Guatemalan blueberry pickers fit a pattern of targeted actions involving farmworkers, including many asylum seekers with limited English or Indigenous language needs.
As of early August, there are no new federal policy changes announced since June 2025, but ongoing legal fights and political pressure could shape future enforcement and workplace protections.
Practical implications for Oregon’s harvest
- Short term: Fear-driven absences, sudden crew shortages, delayed picking, and strained families in Woodburn and nearby towns.
- Long term: Possible shifts in planting decisions, labor recruitment, and export commitments if uncertainty continues into future seasons.
Key facts at a glance
| Fact | Details |
|---|---|
| Date | August 7, 2025 |
| Location | Marion County, between Woodburn and Canby |
| Detained | Four Guatemalan blueberry pickers (three men, one woman); one is a 25-year-old asylum seeker, “L-J-P-L” |
| Language | Mam (Indigenous) |
| Transfer | Believed moved to Tacoma’s Northwest ICE Processing Center |
| Attorney access | Advocates allege ongoing denial |
| Industry context | 276 million pounds of berries on 20,000 acres statewide |
The bottom line
The Woodburn arrests are about more than one van. They’re a stress test for Oregon’s fields, families, and legal systems. With blueberries at peak, every day counts.
Advocates aim to restore attorney access, support families, and keep workers safe. Farmers are trying to save their harvests. The coming weeks will show whether both goals can be met at the same time.
This Article in a Nutshell
At sunrise August 7, 2025, ICE stopped a van between Woodburn and Canby detaining four Guatemalan pickers. Advocates report broken window, limited Mam interpretation, alleged denial of attorney access, and rapid transfer to Tacoma. The arrests worsen harvest labor shortages on Oregon’s 20,000-acre berry crop, imperiling fruit and families.
