Oregon Governor Signs Sweeping Immigrant Justice Package

New laws expand protections for immigrants in schools, healthcare, and workplaces

Apr. 9, 2026 at 8:53pm by Ben Kaplan

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A warm, nostalgic painting of a two-story brick building with large windows, set against a backdrop of trees and a cloudy sky, capturing the quiet dignity of the Immigrant and Refugee Community Organization in Portland.The ceremonial signing of Oregon's new immigrant justice laws took place at a community organization dedicated to supporting the state's diverse immigrant and refugee populations.Portland Today

Oregon Governor Tina Kotek held a ceremonial bill signing on Thursday for a package of immigrant justice laws at the Immigrant and Refugee Community Organization in northeast Portland. The new measures affect schools, courts, workplaces, law enforcement, and healthcare, aiming to ensure patient privacy and maintain access to care regardless of immigration status.

Why it matters

The package follows changes at the federal level that removed prior limits on immigration enforcement in locations like hospitals and schools. The new state-level policies aim to protect immigrant communities and ensure they can access essential services without fear of repercussions.

The details

The healthcare measure requires hospitals to set procedures for law enforcement presence, assign a staff liaison, and classify immigration status and place of birth as protected information. It also allows providers to share information about immigration rights and legal services with patients. The law is intended to maintain access to care regardless of immigration status. Oregon Republicans have raised concerns that state policies limiting cooperation with federal immigration authorities could affect public safety.

  • On Thursday, April 9, 2026, Governor Kotek held a ceremonial bill signing for the immigrant justice package.

The players

Tina Kotek

The Governor of Oregon who signed the immigrant justice package into law.

Bruce Starr

The Senate Republican Leader in Oregon who criticized the new policies for not requiring coordination with federal authorities when people without legal status are convicted of serious crimes.

Immigrant and Refugee Community Organization

The organization in northeast Portland where the ceremonial bill signing took place.

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What they’re saying

“The policy debate centers on whether state agencies should notify federal authorities before releasing people convicted of violent felonies. Such coordination is common sense.”

— Bruce Starr, Senate Republican Leader

The takeaway

The new immigrant justice package in Oregon aims to protect vulnerable immigrant communities by ensuring they can access essential services like healthcare without fear of repercussions, despite concerns from some Republican lawmakers about public safety.