Oregon AG requests dismissal of Marion County sanctuary law lawsuit over federal immigration subpoenas

Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield has filed a motion to dismiss a lawsuit brought by Marion County that seeks clarification on the state's sanctuary laws concerning the sharing of information with federal immigration authorities. The lawsuit arose after the county received subpoenas from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement requesting records on individuals on parole for serious crimes, but the subpoenas were not signed by a judge. Rayfield maintains that Oregon's sanctuary laws, which have been in place since 1987, clearly prohibit local agencies from cooperating with federal immigration enforcement without a judicial order, and this position has been upheld by the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. Marion County argues that the subpoenas request public records and that there is a conflict between state sanctuary laws and federal immigration law, creating confusion for local officials. The state's position is that there is no legal uncertainty and that Oregon law takes precedence, preventing local agencies from releasing immigration-related information absent a court order. This legal dispute highlights the tension between state sanctuary policies and federal immigration enforcement efforts, with Marion County seeking judicial clarity and Oregon officials asserting the law's longstanding clarity.