Oregon is a sanctuary state

(NOVEMBER 14, 2024) Last week, the U.S. elected Donald Trump president again. He returns to the White House in January. He has promised to bring back policies for mass deportations of immigrants. 

This promise worries many immigrant communities in the United States. However, Oregon has special laws called “sanctuary laws.” A sanctuary is a place of refuge or safety.

Sanctuary laws help protect immigrant communities. Oregon has been a “sanctuary state” since 1987.  In 2021, Oregon made these laws stronger with the “Sanctuary Promise Act.” State and local police and government workers do not work with immigration officers unless they have a special order from a judge.

Oregon’s sanctuary laws say:

• You do not have to answer questions about your immigration status or where you were born. There are some exceptions.

• Police and government workers cannot store or share your immigration information to help in immigration enforcement.

• You cannot be arrested by immigration officers at a court or while going to or from court unless there is a special judicial order.

• Local agencies must say “no” if the federal government asks for help with immigration enforcement.

If you believe these laws are broken, you can report it. You can call the Sanctuary Promise Hotline at 1-844-924-STAY. You can also report it online at SanctuaryPromise.Oregon.gov. The people answering the hotline speak many languages, and your information is kept private.  Reporting helps Oregon’s Department of Justice investigate problems. It also helps them see if violations happen often and where. 

Many cities and counties in Oregon offer sanctuary. Portland is one of them. Last week, Portland elected Keith Wilson as its new mayor. On Thursday, Wilson emphasized the city's sanctuary city status. "We are rich in our diversity," Wilson said. "To those immigrants and refugees who have only just arrived, every neighborhood matters, every community matters, every person matters."