Moving Forward in a New Administration as a Sanctuary State: Updates on ICE and Trump’s Immigration Policies
“Oregon stands for the safety, dignity and human rights of all Oregonians,” according to the Oregon Department of Justice.
Oregon has been a sanctuary state since 1987, the first state in the nation to become one. It promises protection against state and local immigration enforcement and prohibits their participation in immigration affairs without a judicial warrant.
Its laws include, but are not limited to: protection from questions of citizenship, investigations and interrogations regarding immigration, arrests inside of or en route to court and provision of information security.
Additionally, Oregon’s Sanctuary Promise Act was passed in 2021, strengthening existing laws and increasing safety for immigrant communities. It also reinforced the “transparency and accountability regarding government interactions with federal immigration authorities.”
Any violators of these laws can be reported to the Sanctuary Promise Hotline (884-924-7829) and legal action can be taken against them.
Despite the promises of a sanctuary state, President Donald Trump’s second administration has brought much concern and questions surrounding Oregon’s status.
In the three weeks following his inauguration, Trump and his administration have prided themselves on the thousands of arrests the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has made.
Several federal agencies, including the White House and ICE, have taken to social media to post records of their enforcement accomplishments, such as photos and videos documenting arrests. Footage was spotlighted of Tom Homan, law enforcement officer and “border czar,” making arrests.
ICE officials have yet to release official data concerning the exact number of arrests under the Trump Administration, though according to CNN, nearly 8,000 immigrants were arrested as of Feb. 7, 2025. This is well over the daily average under former President Joe Biden.
What does this mean for a sanctuary state like Oregon?
In 2017, during his first presidency, Trump signed an Executive Order aiming to abolish sanctuary states and cities. It stated that “jurisdictions that did not comply with federal immigration operations by the Trump Administration would not receive federal funds,” according to TIME.
However, following this, many cities and counties sued, promoting the legality of sanctuary states and their laws.
During his current presidency, Trump signed the Executive Order “Protecting the American People Against Invasion.” Its purpose is the same as its former, but it carries more power. This time around, state officials can be investigated, questioned and prosecuted if they follow a sanctuary law that does not support ICE’s new immigration policies.
His administration and the Department of Justice have gone as far as to sue Chicago and the state of Illinois, because of allegations “that ‘sanctuary’ laws in the nation’s third-largest city ‘thwart’ federal efforts to enforce immigration laws,” according to APNews.com.
Many of Trump’s policies and promises regarding immigration and deportation have been met with negative feedback across the country.
“They’re [ICE] trying to do this sleight of hand where they connect all immigration enforcement to the things that the American people broadly support, which is border security and border safety, and the deportation of folks who’ve been convicted of violent crimes… they’re trying to connect that with deportation of people who’ve been here for years, if not decades, who have children here, families, businesses, they pay taxes,” Jill Habig, founder and president of Public Rights Project, told TIME.
While sanctuary states are made to protect immigrant communities, they have also been shown to promote public safety and security.
The Center for American Progress, a public policy research and advocacy organization, conducted a study in 2017 during Trump’s first presidential term. It found that an average of 35.5 fewer crimes were committed per 10,000 people in sanctuary counties as opposed to non-sanctuary counties.
Additionally, a Cambridge University researcher told The Hill that removing sanctuary cities can “undermine public safety,” responding to the results of a 2020 study by the university. They found that undocumented immigrants are less likely to report crimes to law enforcement if that enforcement is working closely with ICE.
On Jan. 7, 2025, Portland Public Schools board members met to discuss several policies for the upcoming school years. Among them was Resolution 7030, the “Resolution to Affirm Rights of Undocumented Students and Protocols for Immigration and Customs Enforcement.”
It was passed, promising a safe learning environment for all students and staff, information security and education of staff and students about the current ICE policies. Additionally, it was resolved that no assistance, guidance or information would be given to ICE officials on school property or in terms of a student or staff member. PPS does not collect information about students’ documentation or immigration status and ICE officials would not be allowed into PPS schools without a warrant or court order.
More of the resolution can be found here.
As immigration policy is ever-changing with Trump’s administration, understanding your rights is important. Learn more about your rights here.
