NEWBERG, Ore. — Newberg-Dundee Police Department Capt. Ryan Simmons confirmed that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) was present in Newberg on Thursday, June 12.

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Simmons said the department was notified early that morning about ICE’s activity in the community.

“ICE notifying us that they would be in our city is customary between law enforcement agencies for the safety of police and the public,” Simmons said in an email. “We did not assist in their operation in any way at all.”

Newberg-Dundee School District Superintendent David Parker also addressed the ICE presence in an email, stating the district was made aware of the operations overnight and in the early morning.

“At this time, we have not had any disruptions to our schools or offices, and we ended our last day of school safely,” Parker wrote.

He went on to outline the school board policy adopted Jan. 27. Notably, the district’s actions are guided by the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), which prohibits the release of student records or personally identifiable information without prior parental consent, except in limited circumstances such as cases involving child abuse.

The district will only release information if presented with a valid judicial order or if the disclosure falls under the board-approved Directory Information Policy (JOA), which allows for limited sharing, Parker said.

The policy also states that any official, including federal authorities, arriving on school grounds to request access to a student will be referred to the district office to ensure a consistent and legally compliant response. Parker said all school administrators have been briefed to affirm and reinforce this policy.

“Every principal understands their responsibility to safeguard student information and ensure compliance with federal and state laws,” Parker wrote.

Rumors of ICE-related activity and arrests at various area locations circulated in social media groups, but no locations or arrests have been confirmed by eyewitnesses or firsthand accounts as of press time.

Yamhill County Sheriff Sam Elliott and McMinnville Police Chief Cord Wood told McMinnville’s News-Register that neither agency has been contacted by ICE nor notified of any such operations.

“There have been the occasional rumors regarding ICE being in the community, but I do not know of a confirmed instance of an ICE detainment,” Wood said on Wednesday. “If it’s happened, it hasn’t involved or been reported to MPD.”

Update June 12 at 7:01 p.m.

Yamhill County Commissioner Bubba King posted a video to social media confirming ICE’s presence and at least one known detainee in Newberg and the surrounding area.

King said he personally knows a person detained by the agency.

“He’s a pillar in the industry he works in, I’ve known him for a couple of years now, and he’s not a criminal,” King said in the video posted on Instagram. “So the rhetoric that they’re only picking up criminals is false.”

King did not identify the detainee, citing concern for the individual’s family’s safety.

He also shared hotline information for Unidos Yamhill County, urging residents to contact the organization only if they needed immigration or legal help—not to report or confirm suspicions of ICE activity.

“My grandparents fought this fight years ago — two of my biological grandparents are Hispanic,” King said. “I can’t believe we’re back in this place.”

As of this update, no other elected officials in Newberg or Yamhill County had shared information regarding ICE activity.

Update June 13 at 7:43 a.m.

According to an article published in KOIN 6, Congresswoman Andrea Salinas confirmed two vineyard services workers were detained on Thursday.

“There were two targeted ICE arrests of vineyard workers in Newberg. As a part of my Congressional duty, I am meeting with ICE to ensure they maintain the right to due process for all detained individuals. I have also spoken at length with Latino leaders in the community to ensure individuals know their rights and how I can support them,” Salinas, a Democrat representing Oregon’s 6th Congressional District, said in a statement to KOIN 6.

Newsberg is not naming the employees at this time because full details of their detainments, including whether they have legal representation and the allegations against them, are not known.

Update June 16 at 11:02 p.m.

Farm Bureau, Rep. Ruiz Respond to ICE Sightings in Yamhill County

The Oregon Farm Bureau and State Rep. Ricki Ruiz are urging calm and calling for verified information following reports of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) activity in Yamhill County this week.

Though the scope remains unclear, the Farm Bureau said it received multiple reports of unconfirmed ICE vehicle sightings in Newberg and surrounding areas, prompting anxiety among farmworkers and agricultural employers.

“Our priority is ensuring that families and agricultural workers can continue working without fear,” Ruiz said in a joint statement with the Oregon Farm Bureau. “We urge the public to rely on verified information and to take every precaution to protect themselves and their rights.”

Greg Addington, executive director of the Oregon Farm Bureau, emphasized that while the group is working to confirm reports, its focus remains on supporting the agricultural community.

“Farmworkers are the backbone of Oregon agriculture and an essential part of our communities,” Addington said.

The Farm Bureau and Ruiz’s office are coordinating with local officials, employers, and community groups to distribute accurate updates and connect affected individuals with legal and emotional support resources.

The full statement and related resources are available at oregonfb.org/resources and ruiz’s legislative page.

Reports of ICE activity in Newberg and Yamhill County have at this point been widely reported by statewide outlets:

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