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Oregon's "Sanctuary" Laws and Protections

In Oregon, special laws protect your immigration information. These laws also make it illegal for police and other state and local officials to report you to ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement).

These "sanctuary" laws mean that no part of Oregon's state or local government can share your information with ICE or help federal immigration officials find and arrest people in the community.

If you are an immigrant living in Oregon, understanding these rights can help you deal with law enforcement and use public services more confidently.

This article will explain how Oregon’s sanctuary laws protect your information, give you rights, and explain what you can do if those rights are violated. 

Yes. Oregon has laws that make it illegal for local government officials and public employees, like police, to help immigration authorities like ICE. These laws are often called “sanctuary” laws. Places with protections like these are known as “sanctuary cities” or “sanctuary states.” Oregon's laws apply across the whole state. This is why Oregon is called a sanctuary state.

Under Oregon's laws, state police and other officials cannot share information with ICE or help ICE make immigration arrests.

And the laws don't apply only to police. Oregon's laws prevent all state or local government offices and employees from helping ICE or giving them information. For example, this applies to 

  • Oregon's courthouses
  • Public libraries
  • The Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV)
  • Child welfare 
  • Oregon Department of Human Services
  • District attorneys
  • Social services, like county public health
  • And all other state and local government offices and employees. 

But it’s important to know that sanctuary laws do not stop federal officers like ICE from making immigration arrests in Oregon. These laws only stop local government officials and employees from helping ICE with those arrests.

Oregon’s sanctuary laws make it illegal for Oregon government officials to help ICE find or arrest people for immigration violations. 

These laws protect your rights in several ways:

Police in Oregon can't ask you about your immigration status 
  • Police cannot ask about your immigration status or where you were born. 
  • You do not have to answer these questions if they ask. You can remind them those questions are not allowed under Oregon law.

Read more about your rights when dealing with police here.

Government programs in Oregon can't share your information with ICE 
  • If you apply for state programs, like Oregon Health Plan, SNAP food assistance, or other government services, you may have to provide details about your immigration status. 
  • State and local government agencies and public employees cannot share information about you with ICE. This includes your name, phone number, address, or immigration information.  
You must get equal treatment 
  • State and local officials must treat everyone equally and fairly, regardless of immigration status. This applies even in Oregon's jails and prisons. See more in the jails and prisons section below. 
No ICE arrests at courthouses
  • Oregon's laws say ICE cannot arrest you if you are at an Oregon courthouse or on your way to or from the courthouse unless they have a warrant signed by a judge.

For more about your rights under Oregon's sanctuary laws and how to report violations, see Oregon Department of Justice's "Sanctuary Promise Community Toolkit."

Contact with police can feel scary, especially if it leads to an arrest, jail, or prison.

But Oregon’s sanctuary laws offer some protections in these situations:

  • Your immigration status is private: Police cannot ask about your immigration status or where you were born. You can choose not to answer or stay silent if they ask for it. If you share this information, it is against the law for police to give it to ICE.
  • Police cannot make immigration arrests: State and local police do not enforce immigration laws. They cannot arrest you just for being undocumented.
  • Your immigration status is private in jail and prison: If you are in jail or state prison, you should not be asked about your immigration status. You also cannot be treated differently because of your immigration status. This means you can't be kept in a separate unit or released at a different time or place just because you're an immigrant.
  • ICE cannot enter your jail cell: Jails and prisons cannot let ICE enter cells, visitation rooms, or other private areas unless ICE has a warrant signed by a judge. If ICE comes to see you, you do not have to meet with them. 
  • Jails cannot help ICE find or arrest you: Jails and prisons cannot give ICE information to help them find or arrest you. They also cannot tell ICE when you are being released or hold you for ICE to come and arrest you.   
  • Equal treatment in jail and prison: Immigrants must be treated the same as citizens in jail and prison. You cannot be held or moved to a separate unit or location or denied services or programs just because of your immigration status.

ICE can access criminal records. Oregon criminal records are public records. Anyone can get information about your arrests, convictions, or jail or prison time. Criminal records may also contain information about where you live or other personal details. ICE can access this information if they're looking for someone who has broken U.S. immigration laws.

Read more about your rights when dealing with police here.

If you believe someone has violated Oregon’s sanctuary laws, report it to the Oregon Department of Justice Sanctuary Promise Hotline. The hotline has operators who speak Spanish and other languages. When you make a report, include details about what happened, the time, location, and people involved. 

Here's how to make a report:

  • Call the Hotline: 
    • English: 1-844-924-STAY (1-844-924-7829)
    • Spanish: 1-844-6-AMPARO (1-844-626-7276)
    • More languages available on the hotline
  • Report Online: Submit a report through the Sanctuary Promise Hotline webpage.

You can learn more about Oregon's sanctuary laws at the Sanctuary Promise Hotline's website.  

Several organizations in Oregon can help immigrants with legal issues, including deportation, other immigration concerns, and civil rights violations. 

You can browse other related articles on our site:

If you have questions about immigration law, such as how to apply for a green card, work permit, or other immigration program, or how to help a family member immigrate, the website www.immi.org is a resource created by experts in immigration law.  

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