The Portland Police Bureau (PPB) has released two new videos designed to reassure immigrant residents that local officers are not involved in federal immigration enforcement. The effort comes as immigrant communities across Oregon express growing fear following President Donald Trump’s renewed pledge to escalate deportations nationwide.
Reassuring Message in Two Languages
The two-minute videos, released Friday in both English and Spanish, emphasize that Portland officers:
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Do not participate in immigration enforcement activities.
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Do not collaborate with federal immigration authorities to detain undocumented residents.
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Will not ask about a person’s immigration status unless it is directly relevant to a criminal investigation, such as in hate crime or human trafficking cases.
The videos also explain how to identify Portland police officers and vehicles by their badges and insignia, underscoring transparency and accountability.
“Oregon is a sanctuary state, which means state and local police cannot use their resources to help federal immigration agencies,” the narration states. “Our mission is to protect and serve everyone, no matter their immigration status.”
Fear in the Community
Since Trump began his second term in January, immigration arrests in Oregon have been sporadic. Still, the president’s promises to expand enforcement — and his record of following through on such threats in Los Angeles, Washington, D.C., and most recently Chicago — have stoked anxiety among immigrant families.
Community advocates say the fear extends far beyond those who are undocumented, affecting mixed-status households and immigrant neighborhoods as a whole. Many worry that calling 911 or interacting with police could inadvertently put them at risk.
Protests Continue in South Portland
The videos arrive as protests against U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) continue outside the federal ICE building in South Portland. Demonstrations, which began in early June, have flared periodically on major dates such as July 4 and Labor Day.
President Trump has dismissed the protests as destructive and has floated the possibility of sending federal troops to Portland. “If we go to Portland, we’re going to wipe them out,” he said last Friday, echoing previous threats made in 2020 during his first term.
Building Trust With Immigrant Communities
Police Chief Bob Day said the outreach effort reflects the bureau’s commitment to rebuilding trust with immigrant and refugee residents. In a statement released alongside the videos, Day said he has been closely monitoring national enforcement trends while maintaining direct communication with culturally specific advisory councils in Portland.
“We want everyone in Portland — regardless of immigration status — to feel safe calling us for help, speaking with our officers, or simply being part of this community without fear,” Day said. “These videos are just one way we’re trying to listen to our community and be transparent about who we are and what we do.”
The chief highlighted the bureau’s longstanding partnerships with local immigrant organizations and pledged to continue outreach efforts, particularly in neighborhoods most affected by immigration enforcement actions.
Balancing Outreach and Political Tensions
The PPB’s move underscores the delicate balance local law enforcement faces in a polarized political climate. On one hand, the bureau is working to assure immigrants that local officers will not enforce federal immigration law. On the other, it must navigate heightened federal pressure to crack down on sanctuary cities.
Advocates say such outreach is essential. Without it, many immigrants may remain reluctant to report crimes, making communities less safe overall.
“People need to know they can call the police without worrying that a simple request for help could tear their family apart,” one Portland immigrant rights organizer said.
Looking Ahead
With deportation threats escalating and protests continuing, immigrant communities in Portland are likely to remain on edge. Whether the bureau’s videos succeed in easing fears may depend on continued consistency from local officers and visible accountability when interacting with immigrant residents.
For now, city leaders say the message is clear: Portland police are focused on public safety, not immigration status.
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