Statement on Immigration & Customs Enforcement (ICE)

Everyone has a right to be safe in their communities—to go to work and school, shop for groceries, visit the doctor without fear they’ll be detained or harmed. 

We all have the right to move freely and to be treated fairly by the justice system.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is trampling on our rights and threatening our safety. They’re making our communities more dangerous for everyone, using unwarranted force and tearing families apart.

This issue is personal to me. Many of my family members, including my father, are immigrants from Peru. My dad carries his passport around, just in case he gets stopped. My twin sister keeps a copy of his citizenship paperwork ready to go, just in case they take him anyway. I know my family isn’t the only one taking these kinds of precautions. And I know it is much, much tougher and scarier for our community members who haven’t been granted citizenship.

But even if this issue weren’t personal to me, I would still find ICE’s actions reprehensible.

Oregonians have overwhelmingly supported sanctuary laws across our state, and I stand with them. Washington County should do everything in its power to protect our residents and visitors from the clearly illegal actions taken by federal agents.

This can include, but is not limited to:

• Providing funds to organizations supporting families impacted by ICE 

• Engaging in lawsuits to hold ICE and the federal government accountable

• Exploring how to maximize the role of our elected officials; as an example: can the County Auditor hold the Sheriff’s Office in compliance with sanctuary laws? 

• Supporting legislators in their efforts to enact state-wide protections

• Restricting contracts and spending with any companies that are in business with ICE and/or the Department of Homeland Security (DHS)

We have a duty to show up for each other, to hold our governments and their agents accountable and keep each other safe.