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High school students and residents urge McMinnville to act after ICE enforcement; council directs staff to post resources
Summary
Students and community members called on the council to declare a local state of emergency and provide legal/communication supports after recent immigration enforcement activity; council directed staff to add DOJ reporting links, draft guidance for residents, and pursue further data and intergovernmental outreach while staff cautioned about legal limits.
Dozens of citizens — including multiple McMinnville High School students — told the City Council they are living in fear of recent immigration enforcement actions and asked local officials for rapid support and symbolic leadership.
Perla Mendoza, a senior ASB senator, said young people are experiencing trauma and asked the council to "declare a state of emergency again" as a message that immigrant families are seen and supported. Other students gave first‑hand accounts of classmates or family members changing routines out of fear and urged the council to fund legal navigation and protective measures.
Several residents and non‑profits backed those calls and requested concrete actions: better public-facing guidance about how to report or respond if detention is observed, creation of non-emergency hotlines or navigation services so families can access support without overloading 911, and rapid requests for federal data about local enforcement where legally permissible.
City staff and the city attorney cautioned the council about legal limits on municipal authority. The city attorney and police chief explained that local officers must avoid interfering with lawful federal operations; they urged policies that protect constitutional rights without risking obstruction or liabilities. Garvin and staff recommended adding the Oregon Department of Justice reporting portal link to the city website, clarifying what residents should do if they witness an enforcement action (for example, call 911 if a crime appears to be occurring), and pursuing coordinated outreach to state and federal delegates for timely reporting.
Council direction: Council President Peralta and council leadership asked staff to draft a package of measures limited to actions within municipal authority — adding DOJ/AG reporting links, clarifying city policy for staff and buildings about judicial-warrant requirements, drafting guidance for residents on abandoned vehicles and hazards after detentions, and exploring participation in an economic-impact survey via community partners. The council removed a proposed drone ban from the list after legal review indicated it would be ineffective or preempted.
Next steps: Staff will return with proposed language and options for posting resources on the city website, proposed protocols to verify and notify families consistent with Oregon law, and recommendations on whether to formally join an economic-impact study with community partners.
