We have been members of the Democratic Party of Lane County for 30 years now, but the party just did something that deeply disturbs us: They have chosen the Graduate Hotel in Eugene as the site of the 2026 DeFazio Dinner.

Is the Democratic Party of Lane County not aware that Hilton Hotels Worldwide owns all the Graduate hotels (as well as various other brands), and that Hilton hotels have been housing U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents nationwide for many months now? Hilton Hotels has accepted Department of Homeland Security and ICE reservations to house the ICE agents that often use horrific violence to unlawfully kidnap people in the streets and send them to ICE detention centers, seeking to deport them. Hilton is enriching itself off DHS money that is funneled into its coffers on a daily basis, across the country. 

Not only this, but in January, Hilton terminated its franchise agreement with a Hampton Inn hotel in Minnesota after the property refused to house ICE agents. 

We trust that the Democratic Party of Lane County will see the contradiction of the recent passing of statewide legislation like the immigrant justice package that affirms the Democratic party’s commitment to protecting immigrant families, while at the same time paying to hold its annual Peter DeFazio Dinner at a hotel whose corporate owner makes money from its business with DHS/ICE. 

We write to strongly suggest that our local Democratic party not further enrich a corporation that enables DHS/ICE. How about moving the DeFazio Dinner to a locally owned venue whose values do not directly contradict the stated values of the Democratic Party of Lane County?

The Democratic Party of Lane County must do better. We recommend our local Democratic Party issue a brief statement that reconfirms the party’s commitment to immigrant justice and find a local, non-DHS-affiliated venue to hold this dinner.

Abby Gershenzon and John Pearce
Eugene

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