Jose Molina spent months preparing his Woodburn, Oregon food truck El Pariente Mariscos y Mas for Mexico's World Cup campaign. He stocked up on screens, planned giveaways, and crafted social media content targeting Latino customers. The truck sits in a community where 61.4% of 31,000 residents are Latino, and 95% of downtown businesses are Latino-owned.

Woodburn earned its nickname 'Little Mexico' through generations of Mexican migration that began with the Bracero Program in 1942. Families worked agricultural jobs while maintaining soccer traditions that connected them to home. This cultural foundation made the World Cup viewing experience deeply meaningful for residents seeking connection to their heritage.

However, recent ICE enforcement actions disrupted this community. Four farmworkers were arrested in August 2025, followed by 31 more detentions in October. The Woodburn City Council declared a local emergency in November, citing economic and humanitarian impacts. Over 250 high school students staged walkouts protesting immigration enforcement.

Manager Nereyda Miranda changed her driving routes and prayed for safety during the raids. Now with Mexico's opening match approaching, construction workers gather at El Pariente to watch soccer together. The community cautiously returns to public spaces, finding temporary relief in shared celebration despite lasting fears.