Portland Police Chief Issues Assurances of Safety as Fear of Deportation Grips Oregon Immigrant Communities

PORTLAND, Ore. — As fear permeates immigrant families nationwide, the Portland Police Bureau Chief has issued an assurance that the PPB will not engage in immigration enforcement.

In an open letter addressed to the Portland community, Police Chief Bob Day was responding to President Donald Trump’s pronouncement that illegal immigrants will be deported.

Oregon’s Status as a Sanctuary for Immigrants Will Remain Unchanged

Portland Mayor Keith Wilson has described the city as a sanctuary, while Oregon Governor Tina Kotek has pledged that the state’s status as a sanctuary will remain unchanged.

The PPB chief assures residents that he is keeping a watchful eye on immigration enforcement already in motion across the U.S. and is engaging in direct communications with advisory councils representing immigrant families.

Chief Day says his department recognizes ‘the fear and uncertainty’ the situation is creating among immigrant communities and wants ‘everyone to feel safe and protected.’

The police chief says the PPB has a long-standing relationship with immigrant communities and the local organizations that serve them.

Chief Day says the PPB will continue to serve and support all residents, regardless of their actual or perceived immigration status or national origin.

Chief Day says the PPB will not be taking part in immigration enforcement because it has no legal authority to implement such steps.