Portland is set to consider new legislation aimed at enhancing the city’s sanctuary policy and limiting collaboration with federal immigration authorities. The City Council’s Community and Public Safety Commission will examine an ordinance that would formalize Portland’s sanctuary status, building on a previous resolution from 2017.
This draft law would prevent urban resources from being used to enforce federal immigration laws, prohibiting police, employees, and contractors from participating in such enforcement. Additionally, it restricts city agencies from sharing information with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) unless compelled by a court order.
The ordinance states, “The City of Portland recognizes and appreciates the diverse contributions of all individuals and asserts its commitment to treat everyone with dignity and respect, regardless of race, color, national origin, immigrant or refugee status.” As part of the implementation, city employees will be required to undergo training regarding sanctuary policies and how to react if immigration agents seek access to city property or information.
Moreover, the city plans to label all city buildings as “Safe Spaces in the Sanctuary City,” and will provide signage in multiple languages to mark public and restricted areas clearly.
Another notable point in the proposal requires the city to file Freedom of Information Act requests regularly to the Department of Homeland Security and ICE. The results of these requests need to be made public at least once a year, detailing any individuals detained in Portland or suspected criminal activity.
Each department would also have to report quarterly on training completion and immigration enforcement activities, which admittedly feels a bit cumbersome yet necessary for transparency.
Importantly, the exception to the new rules applies only if the Portland Police apprehend someone formally charged with a federal immigration crime and backed by a judicial warrant. Such cases will need to be documented in an annual report to the City Council, including names of officials and federal agents involved.
Attempts to reach the Mayor’s office and the City Council for further comment did not yield immediate responses.
