Advocates report man hospitalized after apparent ICE arrest in Salem

One man in Salem was sent to the hospital Dec. 7 after U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents attempted to arrest him, according to the coalition Oregon for All.

A video posted on social media shows four masked agents dragging a man in handcuffs toward the back of a white Ford SUV at the parking lot of the Salem Mega Foods around 10 a.m. Another masked agent stands nearby.

An image shared by the coalition shows the shattered window of a car they said belonged to the man.

Other videos later show the man being tended to by first responders.

It was not immediately clear how the man was injured. The man was transported to Salem Health hospital.

Oregon for All said the man lived in the United States for nearly 20 years, is married to a U.S. Citizen, and is the father of one child.  

Federal agents were observed in the hospital parking lot for hours. Volunteers later said they observed at least two agents walking into the hospital.

Cristina Marquez, one of the observers, said she was concerned people would be less likely to go to the hospital in emergencies with the knowledge that ICE was at the hospital for an extended period of time.

Salem Health did not immediately respond to a request for comment from the Statesman Journal.

The City of Salem declared a state of emergency on Dec. 1 related to increased ICE activity in the region. ICE detained at least four people in Salem that same day. Federal agents arrested at least 24 people in Salem in a single day on Nov. 11.

The U.S Department of Homeland Security did not immediately respond to a Statesman Journal request for comment.

Dianne Lugo covers the Oregon Legislature and equity issues. Reach her at dlugo@statesmanjournal.com on X @DianneLugo or Bluesky @diannelugo.bsky.social.