Denounce any attempts to deploy the United States Armed Forces, the National Guard, or militarized Federal Immigration Enforcement in Portland and establish the Protect Portland Initiative
WHEREAS, the City of Portland recognizes and values the diverse contributions of all individuals, affirming its commitment to upholding the dignity and respect of all people regardless of race, color, national origin, ethnicity, immigration or refugee status, heritage, culture, religion, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, ability, age, housing status, or economic status; and
WHEREAS, the City of Portland affirms its commitment to public safety policies rooted in investments in violence prevention, housing, education, mental health supports, economic opportunity, and constitutional policing with respect for civil and human rights for all; and
WHEREAS, federal law prohibits the use of the U.S. Military for domestic law enforcement except in extraordinary circumstances—which do not exist in Portland; and
WHEREAS, Portland has already experienced unlawful and harmful deployments of unidentified federal agents in past years, which endangered residents and visitors, undermined public trust, suppressed rights to assembly, harmed the local economy, and disproportionately harmed Black, brown, immigrant, and other historically marginalized communities; and
WHEREAS, on September 2, 2025, a U.S. federal district court judge ruled that the Trump administration's deployment of National Guard troops deployed in connection with the Southern California immigration enforcement operations and related protests violated the federal Posse Comitatus Act by engaging in law enforcement activities traditionally reserved to the states; and
WHEREAS, the unlawful deployment of military forces in Portland without the consent of state or local authorities would undermine democratic norms, threatens civil liberties, and risks escalating violence rather than securing peace; and
WHEREAS, Portland remains committed to approaches that keep our communities and local business safe, uphold civil rights, reinforce public safety through community investment, and respect the authority of local leadership; and
WHEREAS, the Portland Police Bureau is entrusted to, and capable of, enforcing local and state law in the City of Portland through locally controlled law enforcement agencies guided by professional standards and community oversight; and
WHEREAS, the Portland Police Bureau maintains relationships with state and local law enforcement partners who are ready to respond should the need arise, and
WHEREAS, immigrants and refugees make up a vital portion of Portland's population and economy, contributing significantly as friends, neighbors, workers, business owners, community and faith leaders, reminding us that immigration is not a threat to be managed but a legacy to be honored and a strength to be protected; and
WHEREAS, Oregon became the first Sanctuary State in 1987 and has continued to strengthen its sanctuary laws, most recently through the 2021 Sanctuary Promise Act (HB 3265), which reinforces Oregon's commitment to protecting immigrant and refugee communities; and
WHEREAS, Oregon Revised Statutes 180.805 through 180.820, and 181A.820 through 181A.829 prohibit public bodies from disclosing immigration status without judicial warrant, restrict immigration enforcement activities at public facilities, and prohibit using public resources to enforce federal immigration law except under narrow circumstances; and
WHEREAS, on March 22, 2017, Portland City Council adopted Resolution 37277, declaring Portland a Welcoming, Sanctuary, and Inclusive City, and City bureaus have adopted administrative rules and directives (including Portland Police Bureau Directive 810.10) to prohibit law enforcement action based solely on immigration status and to decline assistance with federal immigration enforcement; and
WHEREAS, the City of Portland is a Sanctuary City, committed to serving all residents and visitors with dignity and without regard to immigration or refugee status; and
WHEREAS, City Council and the Mayor are working on multiple ways to address federal oppression and attacks on Portland's immigrant and refugee community; and
WHEREAS, this resolution serves as a framework and a unifying direction, and does not represent the totality of the work that our communities need.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Council urges the Mayor to establish and implement the Protect Portland Initiative as the City's coordinated framework, described below, which shall coordinate the City's response to threats of federal overreach and militarization and unconstitutional excessive use of force.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Council urges the Mayor to protect Portlanders' constitutional rights—especially the rights to privacy, free speech, assembly, and protest—against federal militarization through the continuation and expansion of the following actions:
- Publicly demand that the President of the United States and relevant federal agencies stand down from any deployment of the U.S. Armed Forces, National Guard, or militarized immigration or crowd-control operations in Portland.
- Direct the City Attorney and Office of Government Relations to actively pursue legal challenges and legislative advocacy against any federal actions that infringe on residents' and visitors' constitutional rights, including the right to privacy, protest, freedom from unlawful detention, due process protections, and unprotected/criminal use of force.
- Prohibit all City bureaus and law enforcement, including Portland Police Bureau, and all City personnel from assisting in or coordinating with federal agencies and military in actions intended to suppress lawful protest, peaceful assembly, or protected political expression.
- Ensure Portland Police complies with the United States Constitution, the Oregon Constitution, and all applicable state laws, ordinances, directives, action plans, and policies to protect the rights of the public, including: protesters, media, legal observers, and medics.
- Commit to transparently report any known or reported federal deployments or enforcement actions related to protest activity, to the extent such information is available to the City, and to maintain accessible channels for residents and visitors to report alleged rights violations for referral to the appropriate oversight or enforcement agencies.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Council urges the Mayor to establish the Protect Portland Initiative, and take the following actions to implement the Initiative:
- Continue to coordinate with City bureaus, Multnomah County, the State of Oregon, Oregon's federal delegation, and community-based organizations to safeguard Portland residents and visitors and local businesses from unconstitutional federal actions, monitor federal enforcement action, and incorporate community feedback into City policies.
- Designate a Citywide Immigrant Affairs Liaison within the City Administrator's Office and Immigrant Affair Liaison(s) within each service area, with lived experience, to provide culturally responsive outreach, centralized coordination, and leadership on immigrant and refugee-related policies and initiatives, and to develop required ongoing trainings for all City employees on the City's Sanctuary City status and responsibilities, which will be delivered as part of the City's ongoing employee trainings.
- Continue to develop a centralized "Protect Portland" public information hub with multilingual resources, updates, internal and external reporting channels and protocols, and create a plan for public outreach.
- Report on and pursue all available legal and administrative mechanisms to uncover undisclosed federal enforcement and military activity in Portland, including but not limited to submitting regular Freedom of Information Act requests to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, U.S. Custom and Border Protection, U.S. Department of Homeland Security, and U.S. Department of Justice.
- Provide quarterly reports to Council on federal enforcement and military activity, legal action taken by the City, and impacts to community impact.
- Continue to convene community partners—including immigrant rights advocates, legal services providers, educational institutions, local business owners, neighborhood leaders, and faith leaders—to develop and maintain rapid response networks for communication, outreach, and community support.
- Urges the City Administrator to identify and clearly label non-public spaces within City-owned or City-leased buildings that are not accessible to the general public, including offices and other restricted-entry areas.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Council:
- Require the Office of Government Relations to advocate for the United States Congress to pass legislation that would increase federal safeguards for respecting the civil rights and protecting the public safety of our community, including the Preventing Authoritarian Policing Tactics on America's Streets Act, the Visible Identification Standards for Immigration-Based Law Enforcement (VISIBLE) Act, and the Protecting Sensitive Locations Act
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Council urges the Mayor to ensure that the Portland Police Bureau remains a locally controlled law enforcement agency, not subject to deputization by federal agencies or military without the consent of the City, through the following actions:
- Refuse any deputization of Portland Police Bureau members or other City personnel under 8 U.S.C. § 1357(g) (ICE authority).
- Continue to decline participation in joint patrols, traffic stops, checkpoints, or arrests with federal agents or military personnel engaging in immigration enforcement, unless otherwise required by law.
- Prohibit the use of Portland Police Bureau property, equipment, or materials by federal agents and military personnel.
- Urges the City Administrator to direct the Portland Police Bureau to develop and implement a protocol for interactions with federal law enforcement agents or members of the military engaging in immigration actions operating within the City of Portland that shall include, at a minimum:
- Direct officers who observe individuals appearing to act as federal law enforcement agents engaging in immigration actions without clear identification to document the encounter and, request voluntary identification;
- Logging each interaction in a centralized record maintained by the Bureau, including, to the extent possible, operating agency, agent names, badge numbers, stated purpose, and location of the encounter;
- Contacting the relevant enforcement authority to validate the legitimacy and scope of the enforcement activity;
- Document and refer for review any instance of enforcement activity that cannot be verified through the appropriate federal authority or law enforcement agency, including any related reports of missing persons, abductions, or kidnappings, and coordinate with the appropriate agencies to ensure proper investigation and response;
- Ensure that Portland Police Officers have the training and support they need to understand and comply with these protocols.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Council urges the Mayor to ensure transparency and accountability across City bureaus, including:
- Direct every City bureau to document any known or reasonably suspected federal immigration enforcement activity that occurs at or directly involves City facilities, employees, or operations, and to report such information through established internal channels for coordination and public communication, consistent with applicable law .
- Direct the Office of Equity and Human Rights to monitor and assess the impacts of known federal enforcement actions on historically underserved communities within Portland and to provide periodic public updates consistent with applicable privacy and legal constraints.
- Direct the Office of Community & Civic Life, in coordination with the Office of Equity and Human Rights, to conduct outreach and coordinate resources with community partners to support residents and visitors affected by federal enforcement actions or related public safety concerns.
- Direct the City Administrator to create clear protocols for responding when a City employee is detained by a federal agency or military personnel, and to work with community partners and employee affinity groups to ensure the protocols are culturally responsive, effective, and protective of employee rights.
- Direct the City Administrator to establish and enforce policies ensuring that federal agents or military personnel are not permitted access to non-public areas of City property without a judicial warrant, and that if Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents conduct a search on City property, a City employee trained on city protocols shall accompany them whenever feasible.
- Direct the City Administrator to update City guidance to clarify that City employees shall not share personal data, employment status, worksite locations, or other identifying information about any individual with federal agents or military personnel for immigration enforcement, except as required by law or pursuant to a valid judicial warrant.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Council reaffirms Portland's Sanctuary City status and urges the Mayor to:
- Ensure that no City resources are used for immigration enforcement, except where required by law. When the use of City resources is required by law, staff record information about the circumstances surrounding its use and provide a monthly report to the Mayor and City Council.
- Continue to coordinate with local, state, and federal partners to resist unconstitutional federal intervention.
- Ensure the Protect Portland Initiative aligns with Portland's values of inclusion, equity, and local democracy.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Council urges the Mayor to establish a Contractor Preparedness Plan that requires all contractors performing work for the City to comply with Portland's Sanctuary City policies, the Oregon Sanctuary Promise Act, and the Protect Portland Initiative.
This plan shall include, at minimum:
- Development of a new requirement that City contractors entering into agreements after the effective date of this Resolution shall be in compliance with sanctuary policies and participation in related training as a condition of performance.
- Development of a new requirement that City contractors entering into agreements after the effective date of this Resolution shall complete training on City protocols, residents' and visitors' rights, and relevant state and local sanctuary policies before beginning work.
- Develop a new requirement that City contractors entering into agreements after the effective date of this Resolution shall be prohibited from sharing personal data of Portland residents and visitors including employment status, worksite locations, or other identifying information about any individual with federal agents or military personnel, except as required by law or pursuant to a valid judicial warrant.
- Distribution of multilingual "Know Your Rights" resources and contact information for reporting concerns about federal enforcement activity to contractors and subcontractors.
- Establish a mechanism to monitor contractor compliance with training and policy obligations, including remedies for non-compliance.
- Provision of regular updates to contractors if sanctuary policies or protocols change during the term of their contract.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Council commits that it will work to:
- Partner with the Mayor and City Attorney over the coming months to identify areas where additional ordinances or code changes are necessary to safeguard Portlanders' rights and adverse impact on local businesses against federal overreach.
- Ensure that any future code changes reflect Portland's values of transparency, accountability, local control, and community protection.
- Denounce any threat of or deployment of military personnel, including the deployment of the National Guard who are being pulled away from their families, work and communities, to the City of Portland without the explicit request and consent of the City and State leadership.
- Affirms that the provisions of Title 10, U.S. Code Section 12406 are not applicable or relevant to the City of Portland at this time.
Official Record (Efiles)
Impact Statement
Purpose of Proposed Legislation and Background Information
The proposed Resolution establishes the Protect Portland Initiative to safeguard residents against unconstitutional federal militarization and immigration enforcement. This action responds directly to the unlawful deployment of unidentified federal agents in Portland during the summer of 2020, which endangered residents and eroded public trust. The Resolution denounces any attempts to deploy U.S. Armed Forces, the National Guard, or militarized immigration enforcement in Portland without local consent, and urges the Mayor to take proactive measures such as pursuing legal challenges, prohibiting City participation in unlawful federal actions, and ensuring transparency across all City bureaus. The Resolution urges the Mayor to create a Citywide Preparedness Plan, launching a multilingual public education campaign, and reinforcing the Portland Police Bureau's role as a locally controlled agency.
Financial and Budgetary Impacts
The actions directed by this Resolution do not directly amend the Council budget. It is anticipated that many of the directives will be absorbed through existing City bureau resources and staffing levels. However, it is anticipated that costs may be incurred in relation to establishing and implementing the Protect Portland Initiative, including the development of a multilingual education campaign focused on residents' rights, development of centralized Protect Portland public information hub, and related reporting and community outreach requirements. Further costs may be incurred in relation to implementation of a Contractor Preparedness Plan, including training for City staff and contractors, production and posting of signage in non-public areas of City buildings to reinforce limits on federal access, and distribution of "Know Your Rights" resources at all City facilities that serve the public.
Economic and Real Estate Development Impacts
Not applicable.
Community Impacts and Community Involvement
The Protect Portland Initiative primarily impacts Portland residents, workers, businesses, visitors, and community members who are most vulnerable to federal overreach, including Black, brown, immigrant, refugee, low-income, and unsheltered communities that were disproportionately harmed during the 2020 federal deployments. By prohibiting City participation in unlawful federal actions, requiring transparency across bureaus, and launching a multilingual public education campaign, the Resolution strengthens protections for historically underserved populations and ensures all Portlanders know their rights. The Initiative also benefits neighborhoods citywide by reinforcing local control of policing, safeguarding civil liberties, and promoting community trust, which in turn supports Portland's broader livability goals of inclusion, equity, and local democracy.
100% Renewable Goal
Not applicable.
Economic and Real Estate Development Analysis
Analysis provided by Prosper Portland
An Economic and Real Estate Development Impact Analysis was not submitted for this proposed action. Pursuant to City Council Resolution 37664, Prosper Portland staff has reviewed the action and agree that it does not require an Economic and Real Estate Development Impact Analysis.
Document History
Document number: 2025-401
President's referral: City Council