The Oregon Sanctuary Law aims to protect undocumented immigrants, but US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) recently violated its intent by detaining several individuals in the lobby of the Lane County Jail. As a former public defender director, I’m worried about how ICE makes arrests.
While deporting unauthorized individuals is not an issue, the process matters too. When ICE invades our courthouse or jail, it deters undocumented people from attending court hearings as witnesses or seeking relief. The agency’s actions are deceptive and unnecessary.
During the incident, ICE agents entered the lobby despite it closing at 5 pm and having only one exit. They made an arrest in the lobby, putting innocent bystanders at risk, including a pregnant defense attorney who was almost hit by a fleeing suspect. This behavior makes our community less safe.
Pretrial services and work-release programs rely on the jail lobby, which is not suitable for arrests. ICE should wait to detain suspects beyond the courthouse courtyard. I hope local officials will work to keep ICE away from our public spaces in Lane County.
As a lawyer dedicated to upholding constitutional rights, I believe our community is safer when we don’t coordinate with ICE. They should only act against individuals found guilty in court, not snatch them from the lobby.
Source: https://lookouteugene-springfield.com/story/community-voices/2025/11/19/ice-detentions-at-lane-county-jail-set-a-dangerous-precedent