As Juanita Avila stands on the side of Pennoyer Avenue in Cottage Grove, between a hotel and church, she racks her brain for details on the encounter she had weeks before, in the same spot.

At 6:30 a.m. on Nov. 5, Avila received a call from a community member about someone being detained by ICE. Their car had been left behind, and the person asked if Avila would help locate it.

This was not entirely unusual, Avila said. She’s well known locally as the owner of Juanita’s Latina Store in downtown Cottage Grove. As an immigrant from Guatemala who has lived in the U.S. for more than 30 years, Avila has often assisted new immigrants in the community and has served as a translator to facilitate interactions with local law enforcement.

So, Avila woke up her daughter, Emely Agustin, and the two

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