My name is Florence and I am reaching out for your help to support a SEIU Local 503 Union Member in Need. The details may be a bit long, but for the sake of our Home Care Worker, Maria, and her family, please take a few extra minutes to digest what happened today, January 29th 2026 at 11:00am in Salem, Oregon.

A worker’s daughter was on the phone with the MAC, looking to get help. In the midst of the call, she had to hang up because ICE was attacking her mother.

At the time of the incident, the worker was driving alone on her way to pay her family’s rent when a vehicle without a license plate began following her for several blocks. That vehicle stopped in front of her, and she found herself boxed in between that vehicle and another car. Four people with masks exited the vehicles. They were wearing green black vests that said POLICE.

The first individual banged on her driver’s side window yelling “Papers! Papers!” Within seconds, they broke her window. The worker did not speak. She held her breath and closed her eyes, fearing they would spray a chemical agent in her face. She panicked, believing that she would likely die if they did, as she has severe asthma and is medically fragile, taking 11 different medications.

After breaking the window, the agents forcibly dragged her from her van. Another agent grabbed her purse and emptied its contents onto the ground, where they found her U.S. passport. She had been carrying it because her daughter had told her to carry her passport everywhere she goes, advice her daughter learned at a Know Your Rights training. When the agents saw her U.S. passport, they let her go and left without a word.

She was left alone hurt and shaken before her daughter was able to find her. She was released from the hospital late this evening, where doctors found that she had suffered a concussion, a torn rotator cuff, and bruised ribs.

At the time that she was attacked, she was on an errand to pay her family's rent and to pick up a small cake to celebrate her grandson's 14th birthday. That child and his younger brother both have Huntington’s disease, a terminal degenerative brain disease. Our member is their main caregiver, and her daughter works full time. They had saved up to afford their rent and try to have a small birthday celebration and that is now gone.

Please think about Maria and her family during this devestating time.

If you are not able to contribute please share this link and show our strength.