A Portland soccer tournament brought girls from immigrant and refugee families together to push back against fear tied to federal immigration enforcement.
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Teen injured after shooting in west Harris County parking lotAubrey Decraig, third from right, celebrates with teammates after scoring a goal during a soccer tournament for immigrant and refugee girls on Sunday, March 29, 2026, in Portland, Ore. Valeria Hernandez tears up during an interview with the Associated Press at a soccer tournament for immigrant and refugee girls on Sunday, March 29, 2026, in Portland, Ore. Suraya Abdull plays in a soccer tournament for immigrant and refugee girls on Sunday, March 29, 2026, in Portland, Ore. Members of KYNAW FC team dance during an introduction ceremony before a soccer tournament for immigrant and refugee girls on Sunday, March 29, 2026, in Portland, Ore. Amina Mohamed, right, sits with teammates during a soccer tournament for immigrant and refugee girls on Sunday, March 29, 2026, in Portland, Ore. Aubrey Decraig, third from right, celebrates with teammates after scoring a goal during a soccer tournament for immigrant and refugee girls on Sunday, March 29, 2026, in Portland, Ore. As the volunteer soccer coach shouted words of motivation, one of his players nudged the ball past the opposing team's goalie and into the net, prompting the sideline to erupt in cheers.for immigrant and refugee girls. Community advocate Som Subedi, an immigrant from Bhutan, created the event to help provide a sense of joy and unity amid federal immigration enforcement operations that have affected players' families. “ICE and federal enforcement must be out of our parking lots, out of our soccer fields, and most importantly, out of the fear in our hearts and minds,” Subedi said during the opening ceremony, using the acronym for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.targeted by Bhutanese authorities in the early 1990s. He lived in a refugee camp in Nepal for years and arrived in Portland in 2008, eventually becoming a U.S. citizen. “This is more than a competition. It is more than soccer,” he told The Associated Press. “We are making this a community event so that they feel valued and welcomed.”Fears of federal immigration enforcement have gripped youth sports across the country. Last fall, the Oregon Youth Soccer Association announced the cancellation or rescheduling of several games in Portland over concerns about immigration agents in parks,Immigration enforcement, spearheaded by President Donald Trump's administration, surged in the Pacific Northwest last fall, nearing the historic height seen during the first Obama administration,released by the University of Washington Center for Human Rights. In Oregon, the spike saw nearly 1,200 people arrested from October to December.. Federal officers' use of chemical munitions such as tear gas to disperse crowds at the building is the subject of two lawsuits, brought bySome of the tournament's players — aged 10-18 and whose families hailed from countries from Mexico to Somalia to Myanmar — have been directly impacted by the immigration crackdown. Valeria Hernandez, 15, said her brother was deported to Mexico late last year. “I broke down at that moment. I was really sad,” she told the AP, choking up. “He was my best friend.” It became harder to get to practice, as her brother used to gives her rides. He was her main inspiration for playing soccer, she said, adding that she sent him a picture from the tournament before her first game.At the opening ceremony, Valeria, her mother and younger sister were gifted brightly colored scarves as symbols of support while they grapple with the deportation of their loved one, with whom “they deserve to be united,” Subedi said. Subedi himself recounted how his daughter, 11, was afraid to go to soccer practice after immigration agents were reported near her school last winter. He showed her that he carries his REAL ID and passport on him, but she was still nervous, he told the AP.Community solidarity To help create a sense of safety at the tournament, officers from two police departments and a local immigrant rights group were present. At times, officers were seen on the edge of the park chatting with attendees, or in their patrol vehicle in the parking lot. Under Oregon's sanctuary law, local police are prohibited from assisting with federal immigration enforcement. The departments committed to showing up in a supportive role, Subedi said, “and their presence helped families feel protected, not policed.”“When there’s a feeling of having a community’s back for these girls, I think that creates that sense of belonging, sense of safeness,” he said. Esraa Alnabelsi, who arrived in the U.S. from Syria in 2012, said it was exciting not only to watch her 13-year-old daughter play, but also to see people of different cultures and religions come together. “We really have to be in one hand to face all that's happening now in Oregon and other states,” she said. There has also been solidarity among the players. A few girls who didn't come from immigrant families wanted to participate in the tournament, and they were accepted as the event was open to everyone, Subedi said. Thanks to donations, the tournament — including jerseys and cleats — was free for the girls, who were split into six teams. Some teams represented certain communities and groups, such as the Karen people in Myanmar and the African Refugee Immigrant Organization. The teams that placed first and second received trophies.Sergio Medel was a volunteer coach for a team that included his 16-year-old daughter. He used to play professionally in Mexico and has coached at various levels in the U.S. since arriving in 1997.similar soccer tournaments for immigrants Subedi, who has loved playing soccer since he was a young child, described it as a game where “there is no language needed.”Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.Big City Wings, Big City DEALS | How to save $$$ on your next night out with Houston Life DealsNiños estaban afuera. Familias reunidas. Y de repente… disparos. 🚨DNA leads to arrest in 'Lovers Lane' Houston cold case after 36 yearsGet Hungry, Astros Fans! Reviewing the TASTY new food options coming to Daikin Park this yearRare guest alert! ⚠️We love when Chantell Preston stops by Studio B with the best advice and laughsHere's what 2 Investigates is learning about the future of electricity bills at CERAWeek
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