Commissioners proclaim April Child Abuse Prevention and Fair Housing months; resident urges county action on ICE
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Summary
The Deschutes County Board of Commissioners adopted proclamations declaring April 2026 Child Abuse Prevention Month and Fair Housing Month after presentations from local nonprofits and the Cascades East Association of Realtors. During public comment, a longtime resident asked the board to seek a restraining order to block ICE activity locally; the chair said the county would review protective options used by other jurisdictions.
The Deschutes County Board of Commissioners on April 1 approved two proclamations recognizing April 2026 as Child Abuse Prevention Month and Fair Housing Month and heard a public comment request about immigration enforcement.
Representatives from MountainStar Family Relief Nursery, Healthy Families of the High Desert and the Kids Center described services that support families and children, presented statistics about child abuse and neglect, and invited the community to a free "Communities for Kids" care fair on April 30. After brief discussion and thanks from commissioners, the board voted to adopt the Child Abuse Prevention Month proclamation.
Later, Morgan Greenwood of the Cascades East Association of Realtors spoke for the Fair Housing proclamation, reciting the Fair Housing Act’s protections and urging vigilance against less‑overt discrimination in rural markets. The board adopted the Fair Housing Month proclamation.
During the public‑comment segment, a longtime Bend resident who identified himself as Rondo asked the board to "file a restraining order representing the county ... against ICE," saying he had seen video and reports he described as violent. Chair Chang responded that she had not heard of counties issuing restraining orders against federal immigration enforcement but that the county could review other legal and protective options used by local governments and return with information.
Both proclamations were adopted by vote; commissioners and the chair recorded affirmative votes on the items. The board paused for photo opportunities following each proclamation.
