The state agency responsible for enforcing Oregon's sanctuary law cannot actually investigate complaints against local police.

That gap leaves Portland and every other Oregon city without an enforceable state accountability mechanism if officers help federal immigration agents make arrests.

The problem surfaced after a late March 2026 incident at the Marion County Circuit Court in Salem. Federal immigration agents used an administrative warrant — signed by immigration officers themselves, not a judge — to arrest a man on the fifth floor of the courthouse, according to reporting by The Oregonian/OregonLive published July 2.

Video obtained by the outlet showed at least one Marion County sheriff's deputy unlocked a courthouse door to let two federal agents inside.

At least three deputies watched as agents forced the man to the ground, and one deputy escorted the agents and the detained man to the elevator and out of the building.

Oregon law explicitly prohibits civil arrests in court facilities without a judicial warrant and bars local agencies from cooperating with federal immigration enforcement.

Two complaints landed on the Oregon Department of Justice's Sanctuary Promise hotline. But a 2021 legislative amendment stripped the hotline of real investigative power.

DOJ staff can only "review" complaints. They cannot make findings, cannot impose consequences, and can only ask the accused agency to voluntarily respond.

The Marion County Sheriff's Office submitted a response to the DOJ at the end of May 2026. According to The Oregonian, that response does not acknowledge the administrative-warrant arrest, does not address the apparent violation, and ignores DOJ requests for related communications from federal authorities. Undersheriff Jeremy Landers said deputies "acted professionally, remaining focused on their mission, providing safety and security to everyone in the courthouse consistent with state and federal law."

Portland is a declared sanctuary city. The Portland Police Bureau falls under the same state sanctuary law the DOJ hotline is supposed to enforce. The same limitation applies to any complaint filed against PPB or other Portland-area agencies: the DOJ cannot compel an investigation or impose penalties.

Mayor Keith Wilson, Council President Jamie Dunphy, and Vice President Olivia Clark reaffirmed Portland's sanctuary status in a joint statement on June 9, noting the city hired its first Immigrant Affairs Lead to oversee sanctuary protections. The city has not published a PPB-specific policy on ICE cooperation for 2026, though the joint statement reaffirmed the city's sanctuary commitments broadly.

The DOJ received nearly $1 million in July 2021 to launch the hotline, which began taking calls in April 2022. It did not hire someone to review complaints until December 2022, and that person did not begin actively reviewing cases until April 2024. By mid-June 2026, the department had launched reviews on about 70 of more than 200 complaints received since the hotline opened, completing roughly half.

Complaints have surged: nearly 150 were filed in 2025, more than double the total from 2022 to 2024 combined, according to Oregon Criminal Justice Commission data reported by the Oregon Capital Chronicle.

The hotline sits within the DOJ's Crime Victim and Survivor Services Division, not its investigatory arm. The DOJ's own website states staff can "inquire into allegations" but lack prosecution or enforcement powers.

The only successful legal challenge under the sanctuary law since 2021 was a 2024 court order against the city of Cottage Grove, won by two community groups. The DOJ sent Cottage Grove a "notice of investigation" in January 2025, more than a year after the lawsuit had already been filed and settled.

Attorney General Dan Rayfield acknowledged the gap but offered no concrete timeline for action. "I'll use any tools the Legislature gives me to defend Oregon's sanctuary laws to ensure Oregon remains a place where all people, regardless of immigration status, can live, work, and call for help without fear," Rayfield said. Rep. Willy Chotzen, D-Portland, said he is working on strengthening enforcement for the 2027 session but offered no specifics. The next Oregon legislative session begins in January 2027.

Residents who believe they have witnessed a sanctuary law violation can file a complaint with the DOJ's Sanctuary Promise hotline at 1-844-924-3675.