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Residents ask county to clarify response to potential ICE activity; commissioners discuss legal and public-safety intersections
Summary
Public commenters urged Clackamas County commissioners to clarify policies and protections for undocumented residents and county employees if federal immigration enforcement occurs; commissioners subsequently discussed the intersection of immigration, public safety and legal limits on county authority.
Several speakers at the Jan. 23 Clackamas County Board of Commissioners meeting urged county officials to explain how the county would respond to federal immigration enforcement and what protections exist for residents and employees.
Christine Kennedy, speaking virtually, asked the board to take the issue seriously and to explain “what the policy is for Clackamas County” in the event of federal immigration enforcement. She referenced Oregon’s 2021 Sanctuary Promise Act and urged the county to develop a communication plan to explain protections for employees, schools and churches. “We need to know what the county policy is that covers the entire county,” Kennedy said.
Mark Reeksecher, a public commenter, raised several points during his three minutes. He said he objected to interruptions of public comment and disputed a past claim about property tax totals; he also cited what he called a federal statute, “8 US code 13 24,” and urged county counsel to notify employees about potential legal consequences for assisting undocumented immigrants. The transcript records his comments but does not record any county response validating the legal claims he cited.
Commissioners addressed immigration and public-safety concerns during their communications later in the meeting. Commissioner West said the board has not yet fully defined where Oregon law and federal immigration enforcement intersect and described his interest in ensuring “peaceful and safe community for everyone.” West called out recent national legislation (identified in his remarks as bipartisan federal action) aimed at detaining violent offenders and said he wants clarity about how state laws in Oregon interact with federal immigration enforcement for those who commit violent crimes.
Commissioner Savas and others described personal experiences and community concerns and emphasized the need to balance humane treatment with public safety. No commissioner proposed specific policy language or directed staff to produce a new ordinance or formal county-wide policy during the meeting.
No votes or formal board actions on immigration policy were taken during the Jan. 23 meeting. Commissioners encouraged staff follow-up and public engagement on the issue, and speakers asked for clearer county guidance on employee protections and communications if federal immigration agents appear in the county.
