Lawmakers aim to mondernize sanctuary law

By Oregon House Republicans Caucus

Monday, February 10th, 2025

SALEM, Ore. – On Monday, House Republicans announced legislation to modernize Oregon’s Sanctuary State law—which was last expanded in 2021—to allow law enforcement to keep our communities safe. House Bill 3551 would allow law enforcement agencies in Oregon to work with federal authorities to identify and remove individuals convicted of violent felonies, Class A misdemeanors, and felony sexual offenses.

“Our communities should not be sanctuaries for murderers, rapists, and other violent criminals. This bill is common sense policy that protects Oregonians—and immigrant communities living in Oregon—by holding the most violent criminals accountable,” said Rep. Alek Skarlatos (R-Canyonville), who introduced the bill. “Our legislation provides a partial fix to our state’s sanctuary state law by allowing state and local law enforcement to work with federal authorities to identify and remove illegal immigrants who have a criminal conviction for the most heinous crimes,” he concluded.

“Oregon’s Sanctuary State law is extreme and out of touch with the vast majority of Oregonians who want to live in safe neighborhoods,” said Rep. Christine Drazan (R-Canby), a sponsor of the bill.

A statewide poll commissioned by House Republicans ahead of the 2025 Legislative Session revealed that 69% of Oregonians support deporting undocumented immigrants who have been convicted of a crime while in the United States. Only 19% of Oregonians support Oregon House Democrats’ position that no new immigration policies are needed to keep our communities safe. The statewide poll was conducted by Public Opinion Strategies between January 4–7 of this year, and surveyed 500 registered Oregon voters with a ±4.38% margin of error.

“Democrat leaders have doubled-down and pledged to shield violent criminals–who should have never been in our country–by defending Oregon’s extreme sanctuary state law,” said Rep. E. Werner Reschke (R-Klamath Falls), a sponsor of the bill. “This is common sense legislation supported by 69% of Oregonians,” concluded Rep. Reschke.

Governor Tina Kotek has pledged to “uphold Oregon’s sanctuary promise laws” and Attorney General Dan Rayfield has added resources towards the “Sanctuary Toolkit and Guidance” to shield undocumented immigrants from federal law enforcement, even those who have committed violent crimes.