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Hillsboro Codifies Sanctuary City Status

Post Date:03/04/2026

The Hillsboro City Council voted unanimously this week to codify the City of Hillsboro’s sanctuary status into Hillsboro’s Municipal Code.

The vote reflects community input – received in direct conversations, phone calls, emails, meetings with community partners, testimony at City Council meetings, and other engagement – calling for the Council to memorialize Hillsboro’s Sanctuary City status in the City’s code.

Adopted Ordinance 6513 affirms the City’s commitment to Oregon’s Sanctuary Promise Act and further strengthens the administrative recommendations included in the City’s emergency declaration, Resolution 2906.

In alignment with Ordinance 6513, the City is:

Documenting and reporting interactions with ICE immigration enforcement based on reports to the City of Hillsboro Police Department and observations by other City employees. The City has added reporting to its website to keep the Council and community informed regarding ICE and other Federal law enforcement-related interactions in Hillsboro.

Establishing mandatory training for all City employees on the City’s sanctuary city policy, including ICE interactions, Sanctuary Promise Laws, and immigration topics.

Adding public signage in City facilities to clearly identify areas that are open to the public and areas for authorized personnel only.

Setting language-access standards to hear from all community members

Implementing policies and coordinating with community-based organizations to counteract the negative impacts of federal immigration enforcement activities on the community.

City staff will also coordinate with community partners at Adelante Mujeres, Bienestar, Centro Cultural, and other organizations to explore additional opportunities to support Hillsboro community members impacted by federal immigration enforcement.

In addition to codifying the City’s sanctuary status, the City Council has advanced other initiatives to support the community, including:

Declaring a state of emergency

Directing $80,000 to the Hillsboro School District to support online learning through the Hillsboro Online Academy and to support students experiencing housing instability because of ICE.

Directing $200,000 in community grants for legal assistance, food assistance, and rental assistance support for community members.

Directing another $200,000 in funding for eviction prevention and rental assistance support being disbursed to community-based organizations. The City of Hillsboro has awarded $50,000 grants to Adelante Mujeres, Bienestar, Centro Cultural, and Community Action to provide eviction prevention support for Hillsboro residents.

Households directly impacted by a detainment or deportation of a household member and at imminent risk of eviction may have priority. Eligibility for eviction prevention funds is determined by each organization who have deep, trusted knowledge of their community members' needs. Households must reside in Hillsboro.