Photo: KATU
There are reports over the last week that an increasing number of agents from Immigration Customs Enforcement, of ICE, have been seen in and outside of the Multnomah County Courthouse.
Multnomah County Leaders are asking ICE agents to consider the effect their presence has on people who need to access the justice system.
Here is a statement released on Saturday:
Like many of you, late Friday we heard reports of Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers detaining people who come to the Multnomah County Circuit Court Courthouses.
We immediately reached out to court officials. In the past two weeks, there has been an increase in reports of ICE activity around - and in some cases inside - the courthouse. We do not yet know if there has been an actual increase.
Anything that increases the fear of people accessing our courts is of grave concern. Courthouses need to be safe locations for people to access justice: whether to contest an eviction, seek a restraining order from abuse, or attend a custody hearing. Now, they may be too afraid to show up.
This is devastating for the people accessing our services, and in many cases, counterproductive to a lawful community. We encourage ICE to recognize courthouses as sensitive locations and consider these impacts.
We can't have people afraid to access justice in Multnomah County.
The Multnomah County Sheriff's Office does not give ICE officers access to areas of court facilities that are not open to the public, and does not permit ICE officers to maintain a presence in any County correctional facility. The Sheriff's Office does not hold people in county jails on ICE detainers or conduct any immigration enforcement actions. The Board of County Commissioners formally recognized and supported this policy with a resolution on Dec. 22, 2016.
Please contact our offices with any information. And know that we are working to support the families in our community and to provide services to all those in need.
Respectfully,
Chair Deborah Kafoury
Vice Chair Commissioner Jessica Vega Pederson
Commissioner Loretta Smith
Commissioner Sharon Meieran
Commissioner Lori Stegmann
Nan G. Waller, Presiding Judge Multnomah County Circuit Court
Sheriff Mike Reese