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As the Trump administration adds federal law enforcement focus to Portland, Oregon, local officials in neighboring areas are pushing back on the Department of Homeland Security and investigating their own police forces for alleged collaboration.
Unrest in the Portland area grabbed President Donald Trump’s attention over the summer – and by late September – he announced deployment of troops to the “war-ravaged” city – an effort that Trump-appointed Judge Karin Immergut blocked in October.
Washington County, an area home to about 600,000 people immediately west of Portland, declared a state of emergency last week in response to DHS’ increased enforcement in the area.
PORTLAND CODIFIES SANCTUARY STATUS, ORDERS CITY POLICE TO FURTHER SEPARATE FROM ICE
The move opens up $200,000 in emergency funding to help community organizations that serve impacted residents, according to Oregon Public Broadcasting (OPB).
An immigrations rights group official was one of several residents to complain about ICE ramping up enforcement, telling OPB that her organization was receiving 100 phone calls on the matter daily and that broken glass is “everywhere” from ICE officers breaking car windows to detain occupants.
County Commissioner Nafisa Fai told the outlet that residents may benefit from moratoriums on evictions and having their electricity shut off over nonpayment if breadwinners in their family are taken away by ICE.
ICE DIRECTOR SAYS PORTLAND FACILITY FACES VIOLENCE WITH ‘LITTLE HELP FROM LOCAL POLICE’
Meanwhile, in nearby Eugene – the state’s third-largest city – the police department will reportedly be subject to independent review over allegations that officers aided or coordinated with federal immigration authorities.
The Eugene Police Auditor, an agency independent of the force itself, will be conducting a “complete and thorough investigation,” according to Eugene’s CBS affiliate, citing an auditor’s office official.
The issue arose after residents complained that Eugene police were not following Oregon’s sanctuary state laws.
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A police spokeswoman rejected the claim in comments to the local NPR affiliate.
“Eugene Police Department has nothing to do with immigration, nor with raids [Wednesday],” said Melinda McLaughlin – adding that images on social media from the events of the week are not Eugene police officers.
After a Eugene-area ICE raid last week, several lawmakers slammed the feds for “violent detentions” and allegations the suspects were not given full due process.
Rep. Val Hoyle, D-Ore., Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., state House Speaker Julie Fahey, D-Eugene, and state Senate leader James Manning Jr., D-Eugene, said they were “alarmed” by ICE’s enforcement actions.
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A Federal Protective Service police officer guards the gate of an ICE facility in Portland, Oregon. (REUTERS/John Rudoff)
“This was only the most recent in a series of aggressive raids carried out across the state in recent months. We are working together with community leaders and local law enforcement to learn more and ensure that all of our constituents are accounted for,” they said in a letter signed by several other lawmakers.
“Every Oregonian and every person in the United States, regardless of immigration status, is entitled to the full protections guaranteed by the Constitution.”
Fox News Digital reached out to DHS for comment.
