The Oregon House approved legislation on Tuesday requiring public schools and universities to notify their communities when federal immigration authorities operate on their campuses. This measure, known as House Bill 4079, passed with a vote of 35-22, with all Republican members and Democratic Representative Tawna Sanchez opposing it. The bill now advances to the Senate for further consideration and is slated to take effect in September.
Federal immigration policy has historically restricted enforcement actions in “sensitive areas,” which include educational institutions. However, changes implemented during the Trump administration in 2020 rescinded this protective measure, leading to increased concerns among students and parents regarding immigration enforcement at schools. Last week, the American Federation of Teachers and the National Education Association filed an emergency motion in a federal lawsuit to prevent Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) from operating in these sensitive locations.
Representative Sarah Finger McDonald, a Democrat from Corvallis, shared a troubling account of an international student detained at Oregon State University in December. She emphasized the fear that has spread among students as rumors circulate on social media about immigration enforcement actions. “We cannot improve our attendance rates, literacy rates, or graduation rates, if students are afraid to come to school,” she stated.
The bill aims to enhance safety and transparency by requiring school boards and governing bodies of public colleges to inform families, students, and employees “as expediently as possible” when federal immigration agents enter school property. Notifications would include details about the location of the enforcement activity and its impact on classroom operations. However, notifications would not be required if a court order prohibits disclosure or if agents enter a university to assist a patient seeking medical care.
Sanchez, who voted against the bill, expressed concern based on her background as a social worker. She noted that many people receiving notifications might not know how to respond, potentially leading to isolation or panic. “We have to use the system that exists right now,” she said, indicating that the bill did not adequately address the complexities of such notifications.
Opponents such as Representative Darin Harbick, a Republican from Rainbow, criticized the legislation for prioritizing political concerns over safety and security. He relayed a conversation with an ICE agent who asserted that schools were not a target for immigration enforcement. Harbick contended that the bill unnecessarily complicates relationships between schools and the federal government. “It is unfair to require rural school districts to implement policies they neither need nor want,” he argued.
Faced with implementation concerns, lawmakers removed several provisions from the original bill that would have obliged school staff to verify the credentials of federal immigration authorities and to inquire whether they possessed a judicial warrant. Megan Mahoney, a former president of the Oregon School Public Relations Association, emphasized the need for protecting school personnel from heightened scrutiny and pressure during such encounters.
The bill stipulates that disclosure requirements do not extend to personal student information or situations where sending out information might threaten the safety of students or employees. Schools and universities must also communicate their disclosure policies in student handbooks and on their websites, ensuring that the information is accessible to their communities.
In addition to House Bill 4079, Oregon lawmakers are considering Senate Bill 1538, which would prevent school boards from denying admission to immigrants lacking permanent legal status. This bill aligns with a 1982 U.S. Supreme Court ruling confirming the right of all students to enroll in public schools, regardless of their immigration status. The growing legislative focus on immigration and education reflects the complexities and challenges facing communities in Oregon, as they navigate the intersection of immigration policy and educational access.
