Columbia County has agreed to change its policies after it was found to be out of compliance with Oregon’s sanctuary laws, which prohibit local law enforcement from assisting with federal immigration cases.

The Oregon Law Center sued the county jail after finding that people were being held solely for immigration offenses.

Alexis Ferguson, who chairs the Columbia County Coalition for Human Dignity, said the county agreed to settle the case by changing its policies.

“It's really sending a message that if you have policies or procedures that are not in compliance with the Sanctuary Act, you're in violation of Oregon law," Ferguson said, "and it's very important that you review your intake forms, you review your policies to make sure that you are, in fact, following the law.”

Ferguson said Columbia County will no longer ask people where they were born during jail intake or ask them to check a box labeled “illegal” on booking forms. The county also agreed to stop holding people for U.S. marshals solely for immigration offenses.

Ferguson said Oregon’s sanctuary laws, which are the oldest of their kind in the country, reflect the state’s values.

“And what that's about is really community," Ferguson said, "and that means neighbors looking out for neighbors, and everyone having each other's interests at heart.”

The Columbia County Jail is not the only jail in Oregon that has been accused of violating the state’s sanctuary laws, according to Ferguson. He said some city jails in the county are also being investigated by the coalition.

Source: Public News Service