Sanctuary Policy Preemption: Gresham vs Portland
How do sanctuary policy preemption rules compare between Gresham, OR and Portland, OR?
Gresham and Portland have similar restriction levels.
Gresham, OR
Multnomah County
Oregon enacted the nation's oldest statewide sanctuary law, ORS 181A.820, barring state and local agencies from using resources to enforce federal civil immigration law.
View full Gresham rules →Portland, OR
Multnomah County
Portland is a sanctuary city under three layers of law: (1) Oregon's 1987 statewide sanctuary statute ORS 181A.820 (originally ORS 181.850), the first such law in the nation; (2) the 2021 Sanctuary Promise Act expanding statewide protections; and (3) Portland's own sanctuary code -- Council Resolution 37277 (2017) and Ordinance 192115 (2025) adding PCC Chapter 23.20, which codifies the city's commitment to non-cooperation with federal civil immigration enforcement.
View full Portland rules →Key Facts Comparison
| Fact | Gresham | Portland |
|---|---|---|
| - | - | |
| State Statute (1987) | - | ORS 181A.820 |
| 2021 Expansion | - | HB 3265 (Sanctuary Promise Act) |
| City Resolution | - | Resolution 37277 (Mar 22, 2017) |
| City Code | - | PCC Chapter 23.20 (Ord. 192115, 2025) |
| Civil Detainers | - | Not honored without judicial warrant |
| DOJ Hotline | - | Oregon Sanctuary Promise complaints |
Highlighted rows indicate differences between cities.
Gresham FAQ
Can Oregon police hold someone for ICE?
Generally no. ORS 181A.820 and the Sanctuary Promise Act bar use of state and local resources for civil immigration detention.
Does sanctuary status block all federal cooperation?
No. Oregon agencies still cooperate on criminal investigations; the limit is on civil immigration enforcement only.
Portland FAQ
Is Portland legally a sanctuary city?
Yes, on three levels. Oregon's 1987 statute ORS 181A.820 -- the nation's first sanctuary law -- bars all state and local police from enforcing federal civil immigration law. The 2021 Sanctuary Promise Act (HB 3265) added remedies. Portland adopted Resolution 37277 in 2017 and Ordinance 192115 in 2025 codifying these commitments as PCC Chapter 23.20.
Will Portland Police hold someone for ICE?
Not on a civil immigration detainer alone. Under ORS 181A.820 and PCC Chapter 23.20, Portland Police will not detain or transfer an individual based solely on an ICE administrative request. A judicial warrant signed by a federal judge is still honored, as is cooperation on criminal (not civil) federal matters.
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