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The emergency ordinance, brought by District 2 Councilor Sameer Kanal, is effective immediately, enshrining the status in City Code.
According to Kanal, the ordinance marks a “critical first step to protect Portlanders from the federal government’s targeted attacks on our communities,” Kanal’s office said in a press release announcing passage of the ordinance.
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“This was possible not only because of the solidarity of my colleagues on Council, but also the overwhelming support from many great organizations that make Portland what it is and hundreds of community members who turned out in support of our democratic systems, civil rights and immigrant communities,” said Councilor Kanal. “Tonight was the first step. We’ll continue to stand up for immigrant and Latino Portlanders and the First Amendment and ensure our laws reflect our values.”
Under the ordinance, all city employees are banned from helping federal agencies with immigration enforcement and city resources cannot be used for such purposes.
Additionally, the ordinance requires the creation of policies, trainings and resources to help the city handle interactions with immigration authorities.
The ordinance also requires the Portland Police Bureau to report any exceptions for helping federal authorities with immigration enforcement. PPB must also report any violations of the ban against aiding federal agents with immigration.
The ordinance was co-sponsored by Council Vice President Tiffany Koyama Lane, and Councilors Angelita Morillo, Candace Avalos, Steve Novick and Loretta Smith.
The emergency ordinance comes after Portland adopted a Sanctuary City resolution in 2017; however, Kanal says that resolution is not binding law.
The city councilor also highlighted community support behind the ordinance including support from groups such as ACLU of Oregon, SEIU Oregon, Latino Network, Portland Association of Teachers, Ecrumenical Ministries of Oregon, City of Portland Professional Workers Union, National Association of Letter Carriers Branch 82, the Portland Public Schools Board, all Multnomah County Commissioners along with State Representatives Andrea Valderrama (D-Outer East Portland) and Willy Chotzen (D-SE Portland).
With this ordinance, Portland joins other cities such as Los Angeles and Berkley, California, which have codified their sanctuary city status in the last year.
While Portland codified its sanctuary city status into City Code, Oregon has been a sanctuary state since 1987, when it became the first state in the nation to pass a statewide law banning state and local police from aiding federal authorities with immigration enforcement, according to the Oregon Department of Justice.
The emergency ordinance comes as the Trump administration cracks down on immigration.
“I think this is a big win for the community,” said Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon (EMO) Executive Director Frank So, who helps immigrants working through the system to become legal citizens.
“Some days we have over 100 calls a day and people are calling us and they’re just, they’re panicked,” So said. “Our nonprofit hopes to partner with the city to ensure that there’s not oversight, but there’s partnership to ensure that what passed last night is really being carried out. This was not just symbolic, but this really is walking our talk.”
In August, leaders in Oregon and Washington received letters from United States Attorney General Pam Bondi, demanding sanctuary states and cities comply with federal immigration enforcement efforts.
“You are hereby notified that your jurisdiction has been identified as one that engages in
sanctuary policies and practices that thwart federal immigration enforcement to the detriment of
the interests of the United States. This ends now. By Tuesday, August 19, 2025, please submit a response to this letter that confirms your commitment to complying with federal law and identifies the immediate initiatives you are taking to eliminate laws, policies, and practices that impede federal immigration enforcement,” Bondi wrote.
The U.S. Department of Justice named Portland, Oregon and Washington on its list of sanctuary jurisdictions released Aug. 5.
Rebuffing Bondi’s letter, Oregon Governor Tina Kotek previously said in a statement, “I will fight for the safety and prosperity of every Oregonian, from recent immigrants to people who have been here for generations,” adding, “Threats like this undermine our values and our right to govern ourselves. We will not be bullied into doing the federal government’s job of immigration enforcement.”
City officials will be lobbying at the state and federal levels to get more changes made. Councilor Kanal also said councilors are moving forward with their next legislative work in Portland around things like identification verifications and chemical weapon usage by federal agents in the city.
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