*ICE Out of Oregon Courthouses & Communities*

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PETITION LANGUAGE:

As people of faith and goodwill, we are concerned by Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) ramping up of detention and deportation of people in our communities.

As an overwhelming majority of Oregon voters affirmed this past fall, we believe that local law enforcement shouldn’t be in the business of enforcing federal immigration policy. Moreover, we think it is imperative for the overall safety of our communities and integrity of our justice system, that ICE not be allowed to detain and arrest people at or around our courthouses.  

The increasingly invasive and predatory tactics employed by ICE are making our communities less safe. States that have publicly expressed a commitment to welcoming and ensuring the freedom of immigrants have become targets. Here in Oregon, ICE is attempting to enlist local law enforcement agencies and courthouse officials in doing the work of immigration enforcement, in direct violation of our 32-year-old sanctuary statute. Unfortunately, some are proving willing partners in this effort: advocates across the state report that many local law enforcement agencies offer to ICE privileged access to information, to jails and to probation visits, violating both the letter and the spirit of ORS 181A.820.

Our faith leaders and congregations have physically accompanied immigrants to local courthouses. We’ve observed plainclothes ICE agents profiling people of color and detaining immigrants. We’ve witnessed the devastating impact on families and chilling effects on our communities when people are abruptly detained at our courthouses.

It is in the public interest that all members of our communities, regardless of immigration status, are able to call a public safety official, pursue their constitutional rights to defend themselves in court, or a make a trip to the courthouse to protect themselves or children without fear that such actions might result in the permanent separation from their families and communities.

Immigrants in Oregon should be guaranteed that officials entrusted by the public to administer our justice system and maintain public safety aren’t also invested in their detention and deportation. It’s time to disentangle ICE from our local law enforcement agencies and courthouses.

As such, we call on our public safety, government, and judicial system officials, at every level of government, to use everything in your power - legislatively and in day-to-day operations, policies, guidance, regulations and practices - to ensure that our communities are safe and welcoming for all Oregon residents.