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IMMIGRATION

Portland immigrant activist who hid in church and gained community support has troubled past

Associated Press
Published | Updated
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    Francisco Aguirre - a community activist who first came to the U.S. from El Salvador two decades ago - poses for a photo on Sept. 24, 2014, in the church where he has taken refuge nearly a week ago to avoid deportation. Aguirre, who has two U.S. citizen children, is facing removal to his native country due to an old drug trafficking conviction and a previous deportation. (AP Photo/Gosia Wozniacka) (The Associated Press)

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    Francisco Aguirre - a community activist who first came to the U.S. from El Salvador two decades ago - poses for a photo on Sept. 24, 2014, in the church where he has taken refuge nearly a week ago to avoid deportation. Aguirre, who has two U.S. citizen children, is facing removal to his native country due to an old drug trafficking conviction and a previous deportation. (AP Photo/Gosia Wozniacka) (The Associated Press)

PORTLAND, Ore. – As an immigrant activist's stay at an Oregon church to avoid deportation nears a week, he's gaining supporters, including Portland's mayor.

But court documents reveal more details about the troubled past of Francisco Aguirre, 35, who came to the U.S. from El Salvador nearly two decades ago and is facing removal to his native country due to an old drug conviction and a previous deportation.

The newly obtained documents from 15 years ago describe Aguirre selling drugs to undercover police officers. He pleaded no contest in 1999 to two counts of dealing drugs.

Aguirre says he was innocent but received bad advice from a lawyer.

Portland leaders say they will nevertheless stand by Aguirre because of his contributions as an immigrant rights' organizer and a family man.

Churches nationwide have offered sanctuary to immigrants lacking legal status.