In order for immigrants in Oregon to safeguard themselves and understand their rights under the country’s first state sanctuary law, which has been in effect since 1987, Oregon Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum unveiled a toolkit on Wednesday.
In an effort to educate immigrants as Oregon prepares for anticipated increases in federal immigration operations following President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration in January, Rosenblum has released the toolkit in English, Spanish, and other languages. Trump has promised to deport a large number of undocumented residents, but it’s unclear how many people outside of those with criminal records will be affected. The nonprofit Migration Policy Institute estimates that 108,000 people in Oregon are undocumented.
In order to learn about your rights, what protections Oregon’s sanctuary laws offer and do not offer, and how to respond in the event that immigration officials visit your home or place of business, I advise speaking with family members over the course of the next few weeks, Rosenblum said in a statement.
Without a signed court order, Oregon sanctuary laws prohibit state and local governments—including law enforcement—from assisting in the enforcement of federal immigration laws. In Oregon, federal immigration agencies are still able to function. However, without a court order, state and local funds, facilities, equipment, and people are prohibited by state and local regulations. Details on the law and people’s rights are covered in the Sanctuary Promise Community Toolkit. For instance, the guidelines advise immigrants to request a judge-signed warrant and to refuse to open their doors if federal immigration agents are outside.
Brochures, posters, and PSAs in English, Spanish, and five other languages—Urdu, Arabic, Haitian Creole, Russian, and Mandarin—are all included in the online toolbox.
Federal authorities repressed undocumented immigrants throughout the first Trump administration, even dividing families. It attempted to deny sanctuary jurisdictions federal funds unless state representatives assisted in the crackdown, but an Oregon U.S. judge ruled that this was unlawful.
The Sanctuary Promise Act, passed by the Legislature in 2021, the year Trump stepped down from office, clarifies what law enforcement actions are forbidden by state and municipal Oregon agencies and fortifies the state’s sanctuary policies. Additionally, the statute created a brand-new, state-first hotline for reporting potential sanctuary law infractions. 34 potential cases were reported by those alleged infractions between June 1, 2023, and May 31, 2024. Five of those are being investigated, while 29 were deemed to be unsubstantiated.
“I hope immigrants use the materials and educate others,” Rosenblum added.
Every person has the right to live, work, play and learn safely in Oregon, period, Rosenblum said.
She s leaving office in January and former House Speaker Dan Rayfield is taking her place and has told the Capital Chronicle he expects to also have tofile lawsuitsagainst the Trump administration, as Rosenblum did in areas like travel bans and environmental issues.
— Oregon Capital Chronicle’s Ben Botkin
Established in 2021, The Oregon Capital Chronicle is a nonprofit news outlet that specializes in Oregon politics, government, and policy.
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