Three state legislators are leading the effort to repeal Oregon’s sanctuary law that prohibits local and state police from enforcing federal immigration laws. The legislators have started an initiative petition in order to gain enough voter signatures to force a referendum vote in the 2018 general election.
Rep. Mike Nearman, R-Independence, Rep. Sal Esquivel, R-Medford, and Rep. Greg Barreto, R-Pendleton, certified a ballot title with the Elections Division for Initiative Petition 2018-022.
The petition would force a referendum vote against Oregon Statute 181.850, which states law enforcement agencies may not use agency money, equipment or personnel to detect or apprehend people who are only violating federal immigration laws by being foreign citizens in the United States. The statute was passed in 1987 and was one of the first sanctuary city laws in the country.
Oregonians for Immigration Reform (OFIR), who were successful in passing a referendum against the state law that allowed illegal aliens to receive a special Oregon driver license, has agreed to join the initiative.
"Every nation has a sovereign right to set its own immigration policies and we believe the state statute is in violation of federal law," said Jim Ludwick, communications director of OFIR. "People should have the chance to vote on this."
The Oregon Secretary of State Elections Division requires 88,184 signatures in order to put the initiative on the election ballot.
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