Lane County hearing on ‘sanctuary’ protections spotlights Oregon law, jail policies and requests to stockpile gender-affirming drugs

Dozens of residents urged the Lane County Board of Commissioners on Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2025, to adopt local policies and concrete steps to protect immigrants and transgender residents as the incoming federal administration signals stricter immigration and gender-specific policies. The Oregon Department of Justice described how the state's Sanctuary Promise Act (House Bill 3265) limits local cooperation with federal immigration enforcement, and the Lane County Sheriff's Office reviewed internal jail rules that bar most local assistance to federal immigration authorities.

The requests from speakers ranged from a public statement of protection to operational steps such as the county health clinics purchasing and stockpiling hormone-replacement therapy (HRT) drugs. Anna Lardner, a Lane County resident, told commissioners the county should "use the power of the county community clinics to purchase and stockpile HRT drugs, gender affirming care drugs, similar to how the county ... stockpiled reproductive health drugs." Several other residents, including Sherry Jones and Emily Heilbron, made similar asks during the public comment period.

Why it matters: Oregon's sanctuary statutes constrain state and local agencies from assisting federal immigration enforcement unless compelled by a court order or other legal process. Community members told the board they fear federal actions could disrupt access to medical care and prompt deportations or other harms; county staff and elected officials said they will study operational steps and communication strategies to reduce those risks.

Officials who presented

- Johanna Costa, Oregon Department of Justice, Veil Rights Unit, summarized the state statutes that prohibit state and local agencies from using public resources to investigate, detect, apprehend, arrest, detain or hold people for federal immigration enforcement except where state or federal law requires it. Costa also described the DOJ-run Sanctuary Promise hotline (1-844-924-7829) and the agency's authority to investigate alleged violations of the statutes.

- Captain Gregory Rice, Jail Commander, Lane County Sheriff's Office, said the sheriff's office has incorporated the statute's prohibitions into its general orders and Oregon jail-standards practice. He described a booking notice that tells detainees of their rights and said the jail declined an ICE information request in December 2023.

What the statute does and does not do

Johanna Costa told the board that Oregon was an early adopter of laws limiting local enforcement of federal immigration law and that the 2021 statute (House Bill 3265) added reporting, transparency and a public complaint pathway. Costa stressed limits: "Oregon sanctuary laws do not prevent federal immigration authorities from operating lawfully in Oregon, and they do not prevent deportations ordered by federal immigration courts." She said the statutes allow any person to bring civil actions against public bodies alleged to have violated the law, and that the DOJ can open inquiries into reported incidents.

Key community requests and county responses

- Stockpiling HRT and ensuring ongoing gender-affirming care: multiple speakers asked the board to direct county health clinics to stockpile hormone-replacement drugs and to commit to continue gender-affirming services. Commissioner Traeger (response) said staff in Health and Human Services and the county's community clinics would be asked to assess the "viability" of stockpiling certain medications and to report back, while other commissioners asked for a written summary of existing services and any needed changes.

- Public statements and outreach: several speakers asked for a clear public statement and outreach to reassure immigrant and transgender communities. Staff and commissioners agreed that public statements, policy reviews and proactive communication with affected communities would be appropriate next steps.

- Reporting and recourse: Costa noted the DOJ hotline and explained that the Oregon Criminal Justice Commission receives data about contacts from federal immigration authorities and any agency responses. She said the data set includes the alleged violation, implicated federal agency, local agency involved and the public body's response but does not disclose personal identifying details.

Board and staff commitments

In responses, commissioners said they view the requests as urgent but noted differences between rhetoric and enforceable actions. Commissioner Traeger said the board must balance urgency with careful policy design to avoid loopholes and unintended consequences and committed to talk with Health and Human Services and community clinics about medication stockpiling and continuity of care. County Administrator Steve Mokreski (staff) said the county has formed an internal task force that will meet weekly during the federal transition to monitor federal actions and their local impacts. Commissioner Farr asked staff to prepare a near-term summary of existing county policies and practices for protecting immigrants and LGBTQIA2S+ residents so the board can identify gaps and next steps.

Ending note

Presenters and residents agreed that the next step is not a single vote but a series of follow-ups: staff assessments (including Health and Human Services), public communications, continuing monitoring of federal actions and, if warranted, further policy changes to strengthen protections for immigrant and transgender residents.