PORTLAND, Ore. – A Portland community activist originally from El Salvador has spent the weekend hidden in a church after immigration authorities tried to detain him last week.
According to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Francisco Aguirre is facing deportation due to a drug trafficking conviction from 15 years ago.
The 35-year-old Aguirre has lived illegally in the U.S. for 19 years and has two U.S. citizen children. He's the coordinator of the Portland day labor center.
It's the first time in recent history that an Oregon church has taken in an immigrant. Churches nationwide have offered refuge to immigrants lacking legal status, because immigration officials don't arrest people inside churches.
Aguirre came to the attention of immigration authorities in August following his arrest for driving under the influence.
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