C. Oregonians react to President Trump’s border wall plan

A feud between new President Donald Trump and Mexico’s president over a planned border wall has people in Central Oregon’s Latino community wondering how the new administration’s plans will affect them in the future.

On Thursday night, a large group of Latino families gathered at St. Francis Assisi Catholic Church in northeast Bend, some undocumented and others with family members here because of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrival, also known as DACA, an executive action by the Obama administration in 2012.

There were worrisome faces hearing an immigration attorney’s talk about the possible changes that the Trump administration could enforce, and their rights that they have here in the country.

This information meeting came on the day Mexico President Enrique Pena Nieto tweeted he would not be attending a meeting with Trump next week.

Pena Nieto sent out a message that his country will not pay for the wall Trump is proposing.

On Wednesday, Trump signed two executive orders. One would help jump-start the construction of a wall on the U.S.-Mexico border and increase the number of immigration enforcement officers.

Brad Porterfield, executive director of the Latino Community Association in Bend, said this issue brings more uncertainty.

“There’s just a big question mark in everyone’s mind,” he said.

“Dreamers” living on the High Desert are worried about losing their DACA permits and their source of income, Porterfield said.

Patti Adair, a Sisters resident who attended President Trump’s inauguration last week, is for securing the border, but disagrees on who will pay the bill.

Adair said both the U.S. and Mexico should figure out a payment plan, making it fair for both sides.