Oregon's leftist attorney general has rolled out a new program to help illegal immigrants in sanctuary states thwart ICE ahead of mass deportations promised by President-elect Donald Trump.
Ellen Rosenblum recently published a new guide titled “.Sanctuary Promise Community Toolkit” offers advice to undocumented immigrants on what to say and do if ICE or other immigration authorities show up.
For the question, “How do I prepare myself and my family for an encounter with ICE?”, the answer includes legal guidance from the American Civil Liberties Union. “Don't open the door, ask to see the judge-signed warrant, tell them you don't consent to them being in your home, and tell them to leave.”
Answer the question, “Is there a place I can call and report ICE or other federal immigration agencies currently operating in my area?” The Oregon Department of Justice lists contact information for local nonprofit organizations that work to warn immigrants about federal government activities.
There are also multiple sections on how to report someone you suspect of violating Oregon's sanctuary law and cooperating with federal immigration authorities.
One section advises local residents that they can sue state and local agencies suspected of violating sanctuary laws.
However, the Sanctuary Promise guide acknowledges that there are limits to what state law can do: “The outcome of state investigations and private civil litigation may result in deportation orders or other actions taken by federal courts or federal immigration authorities.” It has the power to prosecute and expel individuals from the United States without changing their decisions or actions.'' ”
“Everyone has the right to live, work, play and learn safely in Oregon.” Rosenblum said. when her office released anti-ICE information.
“Here at the Oregon Department of Justice's Civil Rights Division, I am working as hard as I can to provide the people, businesses, and local governments of our state with easy-to-read materials that will help them know their rights and educate others. I asked them to do something and I'm very happy with what they put together,” she added.
Beaver State's top cop is encouraging undocumented immigrants to “better understand what protections Oregon's sanctuary law does and does not provide, and to encourage immigration agents to come to their homes and places of residence.” “We encourage people to start talking to their families to come up with a plan for what to do if something happens,” he said. work. “
“It's important to know your rights in advance!” Rosenblum added.
Oregon became the first sanctuary state in the United States in 1987. And in recent years, states have taken steps to crack down on those who violate sanctuary laws. Sanctuary promise law In 2021, a hotline was set up for residents to report violators.
President Trump's border czar, Tom Homan, recently said President Trump, both past and future, could increase pressure on sanctuary leaders' efforts to stop ICE from locking up and deporting criminal illegal immigrants. It was reported in the Post.
“We hope the president will file a lawsuit against them and withhold federal funding,” Homan said.
But if that doesn't work, “we'll wait until they get out of jail and then we'll go out into the neighborhood and get them,” Homan said.
He added: “If they're not willing to do it, stay out of the way. We'll go.”
