– a Precursor to PCUN

In May 1977, the Willamette Valley Immigration Project (WVIP) was founded by activists in based at the Colegio César Chávez in Mount Angel and progressive lawyers and legal workers in Portland, Eugene and Salem. The project provided community organizing, legal advice and legal representation to undocumented workers and was a response to an increase in Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) raids in Oregon.

In 1981-1982 the WVIP conducted interviews with reforestation workers to document their living and working conditions. The WVIP also responded to massive INS raids and deportations of treeplanters and farmworkers between 1982-1984 by obtaining the release of some workers, and through protesting at the Portland INS office.

Between 1982 and 1985, WVIP staff campaigned against the revival of the Bracero program (also known as “guest” worker program), which was part of proposed immigration legislation during the Reagan administration.

After PCUN was founded in 1985, the WVIP became PCUN’s arm conducting service and immigration work. WVIP changed its name to the Service Center for Farmworkers.