A group of immigrant rights organizations is suing Multnomah County, alleging that the county and its sheriff’s office are violating Oregon’s sanctuary state law.
The lawsuit, filed in circuit court earlier this month, claims that Multnomah County is unlawfully agreeing to hold individuals detained by the U.S. Marshals Service for violations of federal immigration law—even after they have posted bail or a judge has ordered their release.
In one instance cited by the plaintiffs, Multnomah County reportedly held a man for three days on immigration-related grounds despite a judge ordering his release.
“In order to comply with the Sanctuary Promise Act, our local officials should not be using their resources to aid ICE in doing their job,” said Marirose Piciucco, a board member at the Portland Immigrant Rights Coalition, one of the organizations filing the suit. “Because that’s a federal job, and the feds have their own resources.”
### Background on Oregon’s Sanctuary State Law
Oregon’s sanctuary state law, originally passed in 1987, prohibits local law enforcement agencies from using state resources for immigration enforcement and forbids cooperation with federal law enforcement agencies regarding immigration matters.
In 2018, during President Donald Trump’s first term, Oregon voters overwhelmingly rejected a ballot measure that sought to repeal the sanctuary law by a margin of over 25 percentage points. The state legislature later strengthened the law in 2021.
The sanctuary law returned to the headlines this past summer when then-Attorney General Pam Bondi demanded that Oregon and other states repeal their sanctuary laws—an order swiftly rejected by Oregon Governor Tina Kotek.
While Oregon’s voters and elected officials remain committed to the sanctuary law, recent events and this lawsuit suggest that questions remain about whether local law enforcement agencies are fully complying with the legislation.
### The Lawsuit Against Multnomah County
The lawsuit centers on the Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office’s intergovernmental agreement with the U.S. Marshals Service, a federal law enforcement agency operating under the U.S. Department of Justice. Traditionally, U.S. Marshals have been responsible for assisting the federal judiciary by apprehending federal criminal suspects, protecting courthouses, and managing criminal assets.
However, this year saw an expansion of their role. Shortly after President Trump’s inauguration in January, the Department of Homeland Security authorized the Marshals and select other agencies to perform the “functions of an immigration officer.” This authorization permits U.S. Marshals to apprehend and detain people for immigration violations even if they have not committed a separate crime.
This development is particularly relevant in Oregon because several county jails—including those in Multnomah and Columbia counties—contract with the U.S. Marshals to use jail cells on a per diem basis, a practice that can help finance local jail systems.
According to the lawsuit, Multnomah County entered into its agreement with the U.S. Marshals in 2019, agreeing to hold and maintain “Federal detainees,” including individuals “awaiting a hearing on their immigration status or deportation.”
The suit highlights that despite the Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office stating in November that it will no longer incarcerate people solely for immigration violations, the county has held individuals for alleged immigration-related reasons this year. Furthermore, the plaintiffs argue that the legal language in the agreement with the U.S. Marshals remains unchanged.
Piciucco expressed concern: “In my view, unless the contracts have been amended to reflect that that practice will no longer happen, there’s always the possibility—if a new sheriff’s in town—that they go look at this contract and say, ‘Hey, we can do this.’”
### Responses from Law Enforcement
A spokesperson for the Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office declined to comment on the lawsuit specifically but confirmed there is “an intergovernmental agreement with the U.S. Marshals Service to hold federal prisoners in the Multnomah County Jail.” The spokesperson noted that jail staff are generally unaware of the reasons for an individual’s booking and only record the charges filed.
Similarly, the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office denied that anyone incarcerated under the U.S. Marshals’ authority at their jail is being held for immigration reasons. Sheriff Brian Pixley stated that the individuals held face charges such as illegal possession of firearms and intent to distribute fentanyl and methamphetamine.
“They are not ICE holds,” Sheriff Pixley told the Mercury. “They’re not here for immigration purposes at all. We make sure there’s some sort of valid federal hold on them. They have to have a legal reason to be here.”
Sheriff Pixley added that holding someone on behalf of the Department of Homeland Security or ICE would violate state sanctuary laws.
### Concerns and Broader Context
Despite these assurances, the ongoing relationships between U.S. Marshals and Oregon sheriff’s offices continue to draw scrutiny. Across the country, ICE and local or state law enforcement agencies frequently coordinate to facilitate deportations.
One primary method of coordination is honoring “ICE detainers” — requests from the Department of Homeland Security to hold individuals for up to 48 hours beyond their scheduled release to allow ICE to take them into federal custody.
This practice has faced constitutional challenges and appears to be illegal under Oregon’s sanctuary law.
According to the organizations filing the lawsuit, Multnomah County has held individuals for immigration violations this year, even though the Sheriff’s Office says it will stop engaging in such practices.
### Growing ICE Activity in Oregon
The U.S. Marshals Service appears to be anticipating an uptick in activity in Oregon. The Northern Oregon Regional Correctional Facilities’ (NORCOR) budget for 2025-2026 includes a 58% increase in its U.S. Marshals contract, while Columbia County Jail’s proposed budget features a 70% increase.
This comes amid a surge in ICE activity in Oregon and nationwide in the latter part of the year. Between May and October, ICE detentions in Oregon increased by 160% compared to January through May.
Still, Oregon’s ICE detention rates remain well below those of many other states, potentially reflecting the sanctuary law’s protective influence.
### Advocates’ Perspective
“The resources we have should be used to keep our communities safe,” Piciucco emphasized. “They should not be used to cause fear in our communities.”
As the lawsuit proceeds, the debate over how Oregon’s sanctuary law is implemented at the local level underscores ongoing tensions between federal immigration enforcement priorities and state efforts to protect immigrant communities.
https://www.portlandmercury.com/news/2025/12/30/48220156/immigrant-rights-groups-allege-multnomah-county-jail-is-violating-sanctuary-laws
