A Call to Action Related to Possible Mass Deportation.
November 2024
The DPCC requests that all jurisdictions and elected officials serving those jurisdictions in Clackamas County formally communicate a county-wide response plan to protect the legal rights of people who may be impacted by the unfunded "largest deportation effort in American history"1 announced by President-elect Donald Trump.
As reported by The Oregonian2, the effects of the Trump deportation plan will be detrimental to families, the Oregon workforce, and public trust.
When questioned about family separation, recently announced Border Czar Tom Homan said that there would be no family separation as they would just deport the entire family.3 The impact of this will be that many US citizens (mostly children) would be wrongly deported.
The Trump Administration is likely to target Oregon for raids and withholding of Federal funding due to our sanctuary state status. Evelyn Kocher of the Latino Network stated "...under a Trump administration, sanctuary states like Oregon could be a focal point of enforcement due to retaliation about our refusal to conform to federal directives."4 These raids are likely to disrupt the agricultural and construction sectors which rely heavily on the labor of undocumented workers. More information is available with each passing day and news cycle.
The climate of fear and uncertainty disrupts lives, as migrants afraid of ICE raids avoid hospitals, schools, and other essential services.
The DPCC encourages concerned citizens to familiarize themselves with and to distribute copies of or the link to the Oregon Sanctuary Promise information to immigrants that may be affected by the expected federal efforts.
Sanctuary Promise - Oregon Department of Justice
The DPCC further calls upon all jurisdictions and elected officials to support a statewide plan such as that suggested by the Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon2that includes the following:
Providing know-your-rights education
Providing resources for safety planning
Providing rapid-response legal services
Educating immigrant communities about their Constitutional rights
Helping legal permanent residents apply to become naturalized citizens
Helping eligible undocumented Oregonians pursue a pathway to legal status, such as through a U visa or by applying for asylum
1 https://www.nbcnews.com/investigations/mass-deportation-migrants-trump-actually-work-rcna1616372
2 https://www.oregonlive.com/politics/2024/11/what-could-a-trump-administration-mean-for-oregon-and-its-undocumented-immigrant-population.html?gift=818edba8-67e7-4fe2-99dc-128783c4a57b
3 https://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/4957180-former-ice-director-thomas-homan/
4 https://www.oregonlive.com/politics/2024/11/what-could-a-trump-administration-mean-for-oregon-and-its-undocumented-immigrant-population.html?gift=818edba8-67e7-4fe2-99dc-128783c4a57b
AN EMERGENCY RESOLUTION OF THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY OF CLACKAMAS COUNTY, OREGON, No. 2024-5:
A CALL TO ACTION RELATED TO POSSIBLE MASS DEPORTATION
Whereas Donald J Trump will be sworn into office on January 20, 2025, has pledged immediate mass deportation of illegal immigrants as well as immigrants with legal status, and has indicated he will rely on local law enforcement 5 ; and
Whereas in advance of the possible deportation, young people, parents, educators and others in the community are reporting increased anxiety and fear of being targeted or swept up in deportation processes. People of color fear being targeted because of their skin color and hair; and there are recognized challenges with racism and xenophobia in the schools in the Clackamas County community.6
Whereas a mass deportation of this nature has never occurred in the US, the impact on access to legal services must be considered, as these are a limited resource. State and county laws must be well-understood in advance of the deportations so that local resources including mental health and other supportive services are accessible and available.
Whereas there is an expectation that local law enforcement resources will be utilized to effect the deportation, there is currently no budget or funding available for this planned work. Beyond the obvious costs, the shattering of community trust and safety cannot be underestimated.
NOW, THEREFORE, WE ARE RESOLVED AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. In anticipation of mass deportation efforts beginning on January 20, 2025, or shortly thereafter, we call upon our county and city leaders, including law enforcement leaders, to complete an initial readiness analysis and communication plan no later than January 13, 2025. This analysis would include identifying community risks, resource requirements including adequacy of mental health resources, possible budget implications, scenario mapping, among other disaster planning steps. Oregon DOJ Bias Hotline data and follow up7 should be included as a part of this analysis.
Section 2. We call upon our county and city leaders, including law enforcement leaders to use all legal means at their disposal to support the Oregon Sanctuary Promise as codified in ORS 180.805, 180.810, and 181A.820 to 181A.829. No city, county or state resources should be involved in deportation initiatives, including, but not limited to, identifying and/or notifying federal authorities of illegal aliens, nor should any personnel resources be directly involved in any such enforcement activity. Local dollars should be spent to create a safer community, not to intimidate an already vulnerable population.
Section 3. We call upon Oregon's state and federal legislators to adopt legislation that ensures immigrant rights and expands opportunities for citizenship such as what has been proposed by the Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon.
Resolution drafted by Christine Kennedy , Chair, DPCC Justice Committee
Contributors: James Farley (DPCC First VP, Chair Platform and Resolutions Committee), Diane Grover (Chair, DPCC Rules Committee, Immigration Attorney), Al Rabchuk (Chair, DPCC Education Caucus), Connie Lee (Justice Committee), Valdez Bravo (SCC Delegate - Native American Caucus) Approved by DPCC Central Committee 11/21/2024
Cris Waller DPCC Chair
5 https://www.npr.org/2024/11/01/nx-s1-5164531/deportations-local-police-sheriff-trump-border-immigrants
6 https://www.coalitioncommunitiescolor.org/cultivatingbelonging
7 https://www.doj.state.or.us/oregon-department-of-justice/civil-rights/bias-and-hate/what-happens-on-the-hotline/