Gov. Tina Kotek (D-OR) on Monday ordered the Oregon DMV to continue halting the issuance of undercover license plates to Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials in resistance to the Trump administration, which has deemed it unconstitutional.
A May 28 press release from the Department of Justice said the department filed lawsuits against Maine, Washington, Oregon, and Massachusetts after each state passed “unconstitutional policies denying confidential license plates to federal agents,” arguing the policies threatened the effectiveness and safety of federal agents. “If federal agents cannot use confidential plates, dangerous individuals can track and evade law enforcement. There is no justification for states to deny confidential license plates to federal agents,” the DOJ said.
In response, Kotek’s announcement says she is ordering the DMV to continue its pause on issuing undercover plates to ICE and claims federal agents have repeatedly breached public safety and community trust. Kotek’s office provided a link to the announcement when contacted by the Washington Examiner.
“ICE agents have repeatedly engaged in illegitimate activities, causing unwarranted chaos, sowing fear, and damaging the relationship between law enforcement and our communities,” Kotek wrote in a release. “Oregon will follow state law and ensure we do not aid these unlawful immigration enforcement efforts.” The statement says allowing masked and unidentified agents to operate in unmarked vehicles has terrorized local Oregon communities and resulted in “chaos, violence, and even death.”
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State law “prohibits state and local law enforcement or public agencies from participating directly or indirectly in immigration enforcement without a judicial warrant,” the release says and claims ICE officers have consistently violated both state and federal law.
However, acting Attorney General Todd Blanche has argued that orders obstructing federal law enforcement “undermine federal immigration enforcement, allow dangerous criminals to escape justice, and terrorize American communities.” The DOJ press release, updated Monday, says Blanche has instructed the department’s Civil Division to identify “state and local laws, policies, and practices” that violate or impede federal law and operations, with the lawsuit intended to target policies that thwart federal law enforcement.