Rep. Dexter: Trump policies ‘destabilizing, undermining’ Oregon

PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — Just a day after the Trump Administration released a list of “sanctuary jurisdictions” they say are defying federal law, US Rep. Maxine Dexter did not back down before a Saturday town hall at Mount Hood Community College.

The list by the Department of Homeland Security includes the entire states of Oregon and Washington, along with numerous cities and counties in the Pacific Northwest.

The Trump Administration said each jurisdiction identified will receive formal notification of not complying with federal statues and demand they review and revise their policies.

Federal funding being withheld “is a concern, it’s the threat. But we are not going to back down from protecting our neighbors. This is a sanctuary city, we are a sanctuary county, we are a sanctuary state,” Dexter told KOIN 6 News. “We have tripled-down on making sure people feel as safe as possible in a really unsettling time.”

She noted people often say immigration is not an issue that affects their daily lives, but she pushed back on that idea.

“I get a lot of criticism for fighting for immigrant rights and due process. If they can pick someone up with a Green Card without due process and put them away, it can happen to you. It can happen to me,” she said. “We have to make sure that all of us have the rights that our Constitution gives us — and it’s not just for citizens, which is to the contrary of what a lot of folks are circulating.”

Dexter, hosting her 10th town hall since taking office, said there has been one consistent topic brought up in all her events.

“Democracy has been a top of mind issue for constituents throughout,” she told KOIN 6 News. “The detention centers, immigration, the economy, most likely we’ll hear some things about the Middle East. We’ve got others who are concerned about other parts of our democracy, like the SAVE Act and the budget bill.”

And she said the tariffs policies are not helping Oregonians.

“Oregon is the 10th-most trade dependent state in the nation. This is without question already impacting us. Our budget forecast that we just received was $750 million less than we estimated. Economists already believe tariffs are already having an impact. We are dependent on trade and exports in particular,” she told KOIN 6 News.

She continued, “What Trump is doing is not helping our economy, it’s not fiscally stabilizing. It is destabilizing and undermining the people of this state.”