PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — Following President-elect Donald Trump’s promises to crack down on immigration when he returns to the White House, Oregon Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum is offering resources that inform residents of the state’s sanctuary laws.
The Oregon Department of Justice unveiled its Sanctuary Promise Community Toolkit — available in both English and Spanish — on Wednesday. The toolkit informs people on how to report sanctuary law violations, advises families on how to address potential encounters with Immigration and Customs Enforcement and more.
“Every person has the right to live, work, play, and learn safely in Oregon, period,” AG Rosenblum said, in part, in a statement.
Officials noted Oregon became America’s first sanctuary state in 1987, establishing that state and local governments are prohibited from enforcing federal immigration restrictions without a judge’s order. However, ODOJ reported that it has ramped up its monitoring of sanctuary law violations in recent years due to “increased anti-immigrant rhetoric in our national politics.”
In 2021, shortly after Trump left office and President Joe Biden took over, Oregon lawmakers introduced and later passed the Sanctuary Promise Act. The legislation further clarified state policies involving immigration activity and enforcement, and enacted a hotline that allowed residents to report people in violation of these laws.
But Trump has recently doubled down on his plans of mass deportation and potentially ending birthright citizenship in the U.S.
Although federal leaders are still permitted to enforce their laws in Oregon, the state’s attorney general wants immigrants to know and understand their options.
“I recommend having conversations with family members in the next several weeks to know your rights, understand what protections Oregon’s sanctuary laws provide and what they do not provide, and make a plan for what to do if immigration officials come to your home or place of business,” Rosenblum added.
