Oregon State Sheriff’s Association clarifies immigration enforcement stance

Salem, Ore. — The Oregon State Sheriff’s Association published a legal analysis addressing how President Trump’s executive order on immigration will change local practices.

Washington County Sheriff Pat Garrett, president of the OSAA wrote the following:

“All Oregon police agencies are prohibited by state statute, ORS 181A.820, from spending public dollars, resources or personnel to locate or arrest a person whose only violation of law is that they are in the country in violation of federal immigration law. That statute has been in place since 1987, and unless the Oregon legislature changes it, that law will continue to prohibit Oregon police officers from acting as immigration enforcement officers. The county or city governing body may enact local ordinances that further restrict police officers in that jurisdiction from cooperating with ICE or otherwise assisting in immigration enforcement. The executive order signed by the President does not directly affect Oregon law enforcement officers – it is binding only upon federal agencies.”

Sheriff Garrett added if a person was in the country illegally and breaks another law, Oregon officers are allowed to exchange information with Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

Garrett wrote there are still a lot of unknowns about the future of immigration enforcement policy. “Congress could make changes in the federal law, the Oregon legislature could modify state statute, and a city or county could reconsider their level of cooperation with federal immigration authorities. Federal courts will almost certainly weigh in on these issues at some point. Oregon Sheriffs will continue to keep the lines of communication open with federal officials and state partners as this issue unfolds.”

 

 

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