Like all U.S. cities, Portland interacts with the federal government in a variety of ways – from ensuring compliance with federal laws to securing funding to advance local priorities. Learn how Portland could be impacted by new presidential administration policies and decisions.
Executive Orders
In early 2025, the presidential administration has issued a series of orders and directives on immigration; diversity, equity and inclusion; protections and rights for transgender people; and federal funding. Implications for the City of Portland remain uncertain until federal agencies clarify how executive orders will be implemented.
A memorandum released Jan. 27 by the White House Office of Management and Budget – now paused for legal review – requires all federal agencies to review federal funding programs to ensure they comply with recent executive orders. Under the memorandum, agencies would temporarily pause committing and distributing federal funding during this review.
The City of Portland’s Office of Government Relations, Grants Management Division and the City Attorney’s Office are working to evaluate the federal executive orders and identify impacts – particularly to federal grant funding that has already been awarded.
In addition, the City Attorney’s Office is evaluating implications of executive orders relating to the cooperation of local jurisdictions in immigration enforcement. As Mayor Keith Wilson’s Jan. 21, 2025 letter stated, Portland's sanctuary city status, supported by Oregon's state sanctuary laws and the Sanctuary Promise Act of 2021, requires limited cooperation by local law enforcement and City staff with federal immigration authorities.
Federal Grants
Portland relies on federal grants to fund programs and infrastructure that directly benefit our community. The City currently manages 120 federal grants, supporting everything from safer roads to equipping our emergency responders for earthquakes and winter storms. These taxpayer funds help keep police on our streets and help struggling Portlanders stay in their homes.
Federal grants are currently under scrutiny by the Trump Administration. The White House has directed federal agencies to review their grants for alignment with President Trump’s priorities and executive orders. The outcome of this review remains uncertain, but we expect more clarity in the coming weeks as federal agencies implement these directives.
In the meantime, we are following guidance from our grantors and fulfilling the terms of our grant agreements.
Here’s a breakdown of active federal grants by bureau or office as of January 28, 2025. (Figures are subject to change as we close out or receive new grant funding.)
Active federal grants to the City of Portland
Bureau/Office | Grant total | % of total |
---|---|---|
Transportation | $ 163,617,887 | 47.52% |
Housing | $ 147,906,998 | 42.96% |
Emergency Management | $ 11,003,039 | 3.20% |
Police | $ 8,682,445 | 2.52% |
Fire & Rescue | $ 5,125,464 | 1.49% |
Community Safety | $ 2,000,000 | 0.58% |
Planning & Sustainability | $ 1,930,488 | 0.56% |
Environmental Services | $ 1,803,500 | 0.52% |
Parks and Recreation | $ 1,188,568 | 0.35% |
Fleet and Facilities | $ 611,536 | 0.18% |
Public Environment Management | $ 232,000 | 0.07% |
Violence Prevention | $ 200,000 | 0.06% |
Grand Total | $ 344,301,925 | 100% |
Why are federal grants important?
Federal grants make up about 4% of the City of Portland’s overall budget of $8 billion. However, they play a vital role in our communities, supporting safer streets, affordable housing, public safety, gun violence reduction, and other things that make Portland a better place to live.
Federal grants also help the state of Oregon and local counties pay for schools, freeways, safety net programs, emergency responders and other vital services.
What’s next?
The City will continue to monitor decisions at the federal level and respond to the changing grants landscape. While any long-term impacts remain unclear, potential outcomes could be delays in reimbursements and project work, modifications in grant terms, or attempts at contract cancellations.
Once we know the results of the White House Office of Management and Budget’s compliance assessment and the outcome of legal actions that are currently in courts, it will be easier to predict the impact on the City’s program and budget.
Portland joins sanctuary city lawsuit against Trump administration
On January 20, 2025, President Donald Trump issued Executive Order 14159, entitled “Protecting the American People Against Invasion.” Among other actions, this executive order threatens to withhold federal funds from sanctuary jurisdictions and directs the potential prosecution of state and local officials who do not comply with federal immigration enforcement directives.
On February 7, 2025, the City joined a coalition of local governments who are suing the Trump administration for executive orders and actions that harm cities and states with sanctuary policies.
For more information, Portland joins sanctuary city lawsuit against Trump administration.
Immigration and Portland's Sanctuary City Status
The City Council resolution passed in 2017 affirms that Portland is a “sanctuary city,” which means that the City does not use City funds, personnel or equipment to assist with federal immigration enforcement except to the extent required by law.
Portland Mayor Keith Wilson has reaffirmed Portland’s Sanctuary City Status, supported by Oregon’s Sanctuary Promise Act of 2021. This law limits cooperation between local law enforcement and federal immigration authorities.
Ensuring that our limited resources are not used for federal immigration enforcement allows all people to engage and contribute to the success and livelihood of our city.
You will find more information below about the City’s Immigrant and Refugee Program and the role of Portland police officers.
Immigrant and Refugee Program
The Office of Community & Civic Life’s Immigrant & Refugee Program remains dedicated to providing equitable services, resources, and policies to immigrant and refugee Portlanders. We are proud of Portland’s status as a sanctuary city and, as Mayor Wilson said, we stand together in solidarity with our immigrant families.
Immigrant & Refugee Program activities:
- In 2024, the program has partnered with Portland Community College Legal Resource Center to provide free legal help with DACA renewals, work permit applications, immigration legal screenings, and advance parole for DACA recipients. These services were strategically chosen to help individuals to obtain and maintain legal status and remove barriers to success and well-being for immigrants and refugees.
- The program has also partnered with the Oregon Department of Justice to share information about reporting hate crimes, bias incidents, discrimination, and violations of Oregon's sanctuary laws.
- For the last four years, the program has led the City of Portland’s Welcoming Week— an annual campaign committed to building inclusive, safe, and equitable communities for immigrants and refugees. Activities focus on sharing resources and cultural experiences like art, food, and music.
- The program also works with the New Portlanders Policy Commission to integrate immigrant and refugee communities’ voices into the City of Portland's policies and decision-making. Commission members are immigrants, refugees, and community advocates who live, work, and play in Portland.
Civic Life’s commitment to serving our immigrant and refugee Portlanders has not wavered in the face of changing presidential administrations.
Community Resources
The Oregon Department of Justice provides a Community Toolkit (Community Toolkit - Oregon Department of Justice) for sanctuary promises, which includes information on how local communities can support and protect undocumented immigrants:
- Legal Protections: The toolkit outlines the constitutional rights that undocumented immigrants have, such as the right to due process and equal protection under the law.
- Know Your Rights: It provides resources on how undocumented immigrants can assert their rights, including the right to remain silent and the right to legal counsel.
- Community Support: The toolkit offers guidance on how local communities can create and implement sanctuary policies to limit cooperation with federal immigration enforcement.
- Educational Resources: There are materials available to help educate the public and undocumented immigrants about their rights and protections.
Role of Portland Police Officers
Read a letter from Police Chief Bob Day.
What is the difference between police officers and ICE agents?
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (“ICE”) is a federal agency charged with enforcing federal civil immigration laws. ICE identifies, arrests, detains, and deports undocumented immigrants.
Portland Police Bureau is a City bureau that works with all members of the community, including immigrants, to reduce crime and the fear of crime. They do not assist ICE except to the extent required by law, such as investigating crimes chargeable as a felony, investigating controlled substance offenses, and making arrests for other federal offenses unrelated to federal immigration laws like money laundering, firearms, human trafficking, child pornography, and fraud.
How will this order impact local law enforcement like the Portland Police Bureau?
Sanctuary laws are designed to keep families safe. Portland Police Bureau policies are designed to reassure our immigrant communities that they can and should feel comfortable seeking help from our officers when needed. For years, Portland Police has had a close working relationship with our immigrant community groups, and we continue to maintain those relationships.
In Oregon, law enforcement agencies are prohibitedby statute from participating in immigration enforcement without a judicial warrant. This means that unless federal agents have a valid court order, they cannot compel local authorities to detain or question individuals based on immigration status. Likewise, there is city code and PPB policy against Portland Police Officers making inquiries regarding the immigration or citizenship status of an individual, and officers will not ask for a victim’s immigration status when investigating a crime unless relevant to an element of the crime or an application for a U-Visa.
The U-Visa, or U nonimmigrant status, is designed for victims of specific crimes who have experienced substantial mental or physical abuse and are willing to assist law enforcement in the investigation or prosecution of the crime. This visa allows eligible victims to temporarily stay in the United States and access necessary services while aiding law enforcement efforts.Find out how to seek a U-Visa.
Officers do not assist with the execution of administrative removal warrants issued by Customs and Border Protection, ICE or any other federal agency. Officers do not honor or comply with federal agency immigration detainer requests. Officers do not arrest, detain or transport an individual solely on the basis of an immigration detainer or other administrative document issued by ICE. Officers only carry out an arrest or detention based on immigration status if required to do so by a judicial warrant or order.
The Portland Police Bureau values our collaboration with federal law enforcement agencies, but community members should be reassured that that collaboration does not include assisting federal law enforcement with immigration enforcement.