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Trans Alliance representative urges Springfield to affirm state sanctuary laws and extend protections
Summary
A speaker from the Trans Alliance of Lane County asked Springfield to commit to enforcing Oregon’s existing sanctuary laws and to consider extending local protections to cover trans people amid recent federal actions affecting queer and immigrant rights.
Elliot Harwell, who identified themself as a Springfield resident, trans woman and spokeswoman for the Trans Alliance of Lane County, urged the City Council to support the organization’s efforts to protect the rights of trans people and immigrants in Lane County. Harwell said recent federal actions prompted local civic groups to seek commitments from local governments to adhere to Oregon's sanctuary laws and to explore expansions of protections to cover trans people.
Harwell noted that Oregon adopted sanctuary protections in 1987 that limit local law enforcement cooperation with federal immigration enforcement, and said Lane County commissioners have agreed to start a process to reaffirm Oregon's preexisting sanctuary laws. Harwell asked Springfield to take similar action at the city level and to consider ways the city can explicitly affirm protections for trans people and immigrants.
No council action was recorded in response to the request; the comment was received as public testimony under business from the audience.
