Staying Informed and Standing with our Immigrant Neighbors
We are writing this as the owners and staff of Bambu—people who want our communities to feel safe and steady for all people.
Over the last several weeks, too many families are carrying the weight of fear. Not abstract worry—real fear of disruption, separation, and sudden instability. When fear enters daily life, it spills into classrooms, workplaces, and whole neighborhoods.
That is why we oppose immigration enforcement tactics that use fear and intimidation that harm families and destabilize communities. We stand with immigrants.
This isn’t only happening in cities
It’s easy to assume these stories mostly belong to major metropolitan areas like Minneapolis or here in Portland —because that’s where cameras go, and where national coverage concentrates.
But these intimidation tactics are not confined to big cities. They are showing up in smaller towns, suburbs, and rural communities, too—sometimes more quietly, and sometimes with fewer local organizations equipped to respond.
Our ask: If you want to stay informed, start with reputable local reporting and trusted immigrant legal-aid and community organizations. Save a few verified sources you can return to, and share only confirmed updates—because rumors can put people at risk.
If you’re able, consider supporting your neighbors in practical ways: shop immigrant-owned businesses, donate to legal-aid and family-support groups, offer rides, meals or childcare through established community channels, and speak up and be heard when you hear dehumanizing language.
Why we are speaking up
We do not believe that “staying quiet” is the same as staying neutral. When fear becomes a tactic—when families and workers are made to feel unsafe in their day-to-day lives—silence starts to look like acceptance.
We’re speaking up because safety and stability are not political abstractions. They’re what allow people to go to work, the grocery store, take kids to school, seek medical care, and participate in community life without risk.
When intimidation and uncertainty enter the ordinary rhythms of life, entire communities become less secure—not just the people being targeted.
We condemn the horrible killings of U.S. citizens exercising their rights to protest in Minneapolis, MN. This is a dangerous precedent for our democracy, our communities, and our economy.
Bambu has joined a group of organizations coming together to tell Congress that Defending the Free Market Means Defending Civil Rights. Read the full letter here.
Make your voice heard
It matters how we talk about this. People are not headlines. They’re our neighbors, colleagues, friends, and customers. They deserve dignity and due process, not fear and public spectacle.
That’s why our strongest ask is to simply stay informed, and share responsibly. Follow reputable local reporting, rely on trusted legal-aid and community organizations for guidance, and avoid amplifying rumors. Accurate information protects people. Noise doesn’t. It can be one Small Change to consider.
Stay informed: a short, reputable resource list
1) Start local:
- Your local newspaper or public radio newsroom (for what’s actually happening in your area)
2) Verified legal guidance / explainers (national):
- National Immigration Law Center (NILC) — policy updates + “know your rights” resources: https://www.nilc.org/
- Immigrant Legal Resource Center (ILRC) — practical legal education and guidance: https://www.ilrc.org/
- National Immigrant Justice Center (NIJC) — legal services and information: https://immigrantjustice.org/
3) Find trustworthy help near you (directory):
- Immigration Advocates Network – National Immigration Legal Services Directory (searchable list of nonprofit providers):
4) Resources in the Pacific Northwest:
- Immigration Counseling Service (ICS), Oregon: https://www.ics-law.org/
- Northwest Immigrant Rights Project (NWIRP), Washington: https://nwirp.org/
How to share responsibly -
If it’s not from reputable reporting or a verified legal/community organization, don’t repost it as fact—misinformation can escalate fear and create real risk.
We know a blog post won’t fix what people are living through. But we also know silence can normalize harm—and that isn’t who we want to be as a company, as residents or neighbors. Using our collective voice in a way that protects dignity rather than amplifies fear is the goal.
We are supporting organizations that provide legal aid and family support, and using our voice in a way that protects dignity rather than amplifies fear.
If you’re reading this and feeling unsure what you can do: stay informed through trusted sources, share responsibly, and look for practical ways to help a neighbor feel safer and more secure. That’s how communities stay steady—one choice at a time.
(And if you’re seeing this from our social posts, thank you for taking a moment to read the fuller context here.)
