Oregon Democrats Prepare to Challenge Federal Immigration Agenda

State lawmakers vow to push back against aggressive federal immigration enforcement actions.

Jan. 28, 2026 at 8:55pm

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As the 2026 Oregon legislative session approaches, Democratic lawmakers are gearing up to challenge the federal government's mass deportation efforts. They plan to introduce bills to restrict U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents' activities in the state, setting up a potential clash with the Trump administration's immigration agenda.

Why it matters

This exchange between Oregon's Democratic and Republican legislative leaders offers a preview of the friction that is likely to arise during the upcoming session as the state's Democrats try to push back against the federal government's aggressive immigration enforcement tactics, which they view as unconstitutional and a violation of Americans' rights.

The details

Many of the state's legislative policies in the works, such as preventing law enforcement officers from concealing their identity, were underway before recent high-profile incidents involving federal immigration enforcement. During a legislative preview, Democratic leaders made it clear that resisting the Trump administration's immigration agenda will be a top priority. They criticized federal agents' activities, including making arrests in hospital parking lots, outside courthouses, and near schools. Republicans, meanwhile, argued that the state needs to work more closely with federal agencies to address issues like violent crime, cartel activity, and human trafficking.

  • The 2026 Oregon legislative session kicks off on Monday, January 27, 2026.
  • The legislative preview where the exchange took place was held on Wednesday, January 28, 2026.

The players

Ben Bowman

House Democratic Leader, representing Tigard.

Lucetta Elmer

House Republican Leader, representing McMinnville.

Julie Fahey

House Speaker, representing Eugene.

Tina Kotek

Governor of Oregon, a Democrat.

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What they’re saying

“I will just say I believe that a lot of the activity we're seeing from ICE and other federal agencies is unconstitutional. Americans' rights are being violated on TV across the country every single day.”

— Ben Bowman, House Democratic Leader

“We don't want to have children coming home that are afraid to go back to school. I don't think anyone wants that.”

— Lucetta Elmer, House Republican Leader

“The federal government has made fewer arrests for drug crimes and seized fewer weapons than they did in the previous years because their attention is on this brutal immigration crackdown and not on child exploitation crimes, drug crimes and weapons crimes.”

— Julie Fahey, House Speaker

“Hospital parking lots, outside courthouses, outside of our schools. All of those things are very concerning for me and for lawmakers.”

— Tina Kotek, Governor of Oregon

What’s next

The Oregon legislature will consider bills during the 2026 session that aim to restrict ICE agents' activities in the state, setting up a potential clash with the federal government's immigration enforcement agenda.

The takeaway

This exchange highlights the growing divide between Democratic-led states like Oregon and the federal government over immigration policies, with state lawmakers vowing to push back against what they view as unconstitutional and overly aggressive federal enforcement actions.