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Residents, advocates urge Lane County to affirm sanctuary protections and secure hormone therapy access
Summary
More than a dozen residents urged Lane County commissioners to adopt sanctuary protections for immigrants and to take steps to ensure continued access to gender‑affirming hormone therapy after recent federal actions; commissioners said staff will pursue outreach and options including a public statement.
Dozens of residents and community advocates told the Lane County Board of Commissioners on Jan. 28 that the county should affirm protections for immigrants and act to preserve access to gender‑affirming care, including hormone replacement therapy (HRT), after a series of federal executive actions.
Speakers at the public comment period — including longtime residents, faith leaders and health‑care professionals — urged the board to work with county departments and community organizations to make clear the county will follow state law and to identify operational steps to protect at‑risk residents.
The call for county action was broad and sustained. Sherry Jones, a Eugene resident, said immigrant histories are “why we need to do what we can to resist raids on our immigrant and refugee community members by finalizing the county plans for sanctuary.” Several speakers tied that request to concerns for transgender residents. Cassandra Mirand said, “I want to ask you to please think about what it would be like to have been on using HRT and suddenly not have that available for your health.” Amy Cameron, who said she left copies of a physician’s recommendations with the board, supported “stockpil[ing] HRT, much like our very wise governor has done for abortion care.”
Other speakers framed the issue as both local and moral. Judy Bowles, a former Springfield finance director speaking as a private citizen, asked the board to “confirm the protections that the state of Oregon has established for immigrants here in our county and include transgendered people whose well‑being is in your care.” Historian Bob Bussell recalled past government scapegoating and said the county should “listen to the needs of the trans community around treatment and care.”
Commissioners acknowledged the urgency. Commissioner Trigger said the board has directed staff to investigate what “becoming a sanctuary county” would mean and recommended staff work directly with impacted communities to identify practical needs and operational steps. Commissioner Buck said staff and human resources are tracking federal developments and that Lane County will follow state sanctuary rules. Commissioner Farr asked county administrator Greg Rickoff to report to the board on instructions staff had received about responding to requests for county records or access to facilities and on staff training for public‑facing employees.
Board members also signaled willingness to make public statements: Trigger said she supported issuing a public statement and emphasized that prior board orders and statements already recognize county commitments to transgender equality and gender‑affirming care. Commissioners discussed using staff and community partners to reach residents who may not come to public meetings, including people who are undocumented.
No formal county policy or ordinance was adopted during the meeting. Commissioners agreed to have staff continue work assigned at an earlier meeting, to engage impacted communities, and to return with recommended next steps. Several commissioners said they would make public statements reiterating county values and protections.
The board recessed for lunch after the public comment period and resumed other agenda items later in the meeting.
The public comments and commissioners’ remarks are part of the official record of the Jan. 28, 2025, Lane County Board of Commissioners meeting.
