Oregon Leaders Demand End to ICE Operations Amid Sudden Surge of Arrests

As federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) tactics escalate in Oregon, disrupting lives, families, and entire industries, the Governor and 31 mayors jointly demanded that Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and Tom Homan, President Trump’s Border Czar, halt ICE actions in the state.

Oregon Demands Halt To Immigration Enforcement

In a letter to Noem and Homan yesterday, Governor Kotek and Oregon Mayors called for an immediate halt to federal immigration enforcement actions in Oregon until all recent federal use-of-force incidents are thoroughly investigated and those responsible are held accountable.

The letter said, “We demand an immediate halt to federal immigration enforcement actions in Oregon until thorough investigations of use-of-force incidents in Minneapolis, in Portland, and all other use of force incidents by federal agents are thoroughly investigated and those involved are held accountable to the fullest extent of the law.”

Following a January 30 executive order and a series of conversations with community leaders, the letter cites the Trump Administration’s increasingly aggressive enforcement tactics. It refers to recent incidents involving federal officers in Minneapolis and Portland.

The leaders say ICE prioritizes intimidation over accountability, and their actions undermine civil liberties, erode public trust, and threaten people exercising their First Amendment rights. The trust built through community-based policing between state and local law enforcement and the community is being damaged by federal actions that exclude local partners.

The leaders reaffirmed Oregon’s commitment to its Sanctuary Law and a clear message to immigrant and refugee communities: you belong here, and Oregon stands with you.

Oregon Industries Disrupted By ICE

The leaders’ letter also highlights the real harm current ICE practices are causing in Oregon communities, including families avoiding school, health care, work, and local businesses out of fear as federal immigration enforcement operations in Oregon intensified dramatically in early 2026.

ICE conducted hundreds of workplace and community arrests, disrupting key industries like agriculture, construction, and food processing, leading to labor shortages and economic ripple effects in both rural and urban areas.

Oregon’s unauthorized population is estimated at 155,000, with the top employment industries including Construction (15,000; 14%), Manufacturing (13,000; 12%), Agriculture (13,000; 12%), and Accommodation and food services (15,000; 14%).

At least 1,100 people were arrested in Oregon in 2025, with more than 660 in the first 10 months. In October alone, more than 560 people were arrested in Portland alone, according to the Border Patrol Chief.