ICE Response: City of Hillsboro Actions

Hillsboro City Council Unanimously Agrees on Plan to Respond to ICE Impacts on Community

See the latest actions by the City of Hillsboro to implement the City Council's State of Emergency declaration due to the impacts of federal immigration enforcement actions in the community.

November 24, 2025: Special City Council Work Session on ICE Response

The Hillsboro City Council held a special work session on November 24, 2025, to continue discussions on the City's response to federal immigration enforcement by ICE (Immigration & Customs Enforcement) and other federal agencies.

The work session was for the Council to develop a plan to respond to ICE impacts in the community. The plan was informed by suggestions from the Council, City staff, community-based organizations, and feedback from the community that was received in public comments over the last few meetings.

The plan's five main focus areas are: Focusing Internally, Providing Funding Support, Partnering with Community, Calling for State & Federal Action, and Declaring a Local Emergency.

Key Takeaways:

The Council unanimously agreed on a plan that would include the following:

Advocate strongly for changes at the State and Federal level, including a Statewide emergency declaration.
Increasing funding support for community-focused funding
Develop a grant program for small businesses impacted by ICE
Make sure community in need has access to utility assistance.
Work with the Hillsboro School District (HSD) to identify ways to support online learning and to support students experiencing housing instability.
Create a community advisory committee.
Build on existing relationships with community-based organizations (CBOs) and community
Set up ongoing meetings and forums to hear from CBOs and community, to include City administration and Hillsboro Police Department leadership, to hear directly about impacts in our community, develop solutions, and support each other in sharing accurate information, and sharing resources.
Add more information on Knowing Your Rights to the City webpage, including the section on Immigration Resources.
Post signage in City facilities to label which areas are open to the public and which areas are private and off-limits to ICE without a search warrant.
Automated License Plate Reader (ALPR) usage is in pause until the City can do a more thorough review.
City staff note that ICE may choose not to follow the City's rules. The community should be aware of this and not have a false sense of safety because of City signage.

The Council also asked staff to come back with options to evaluate the following:

Establishing a dedicated office within the City to assist with immigration and other human rights issues
Strengthening the City’s Sanctuary status by appropriately codifying certain requirements
Finding opportunities to assist with rent relief for impacted community members and small businesses

More Takeaways

All community members should know: Whenever you call the Hillsboro Police Department, you will always get a response. HPD responds to every call.
City staff are required to document ALL interactions with ICE and other federal immigration enforcement staff. This includes ANY interaction by ANY City employee in ANY City department: Fire & Rescue, Library, Parks & Recreation, Police, Public Works, Water, and more.
The City is working to create enhanced staff trainings on ICE interactions.
The City of Hillsboro will look to share its resources with other cities and communities to support their own response to ICE. This includes sharing trainings and policy development for cities that do not have the resources to dedicate to ICE response.

Meeting Video:

Watch the November 24 City Council Special Work Session on the TVCTV website.

Meeting Agenda:

City Council Special Work Session agenda for November 24, 2025

News Media Coverage:

November 18, 2025: City Council Meeting & Work Session on ICE Response

The Hillsboro City Council held a work session before and after its regular meeting on November 18, 2025, to discuss the City's response to federal immigration enforcement by ICE (Immigration & Customs Enforcement) and other federal agencies.

Key Takeaways:

Calling out the impacts of federal immigration enforcement actions within the Hillsboro community, the Hillsboro City Council has declared a State of Emergency. Read the complete State of Emergency declaration
The Council unanimously adopted the resolution declaring the emergency during its meeting on November 18, 2025, while directing the City to take more actions to address the impacts of immigration enforcement in Hillsboro.
The Council’s emergency declaration condemns U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers’ reported and alleged conduct infringing on the constitutional rights of members of the Hillsboro community, including:
- arresting and detaining individuals without affording due process rights
- refusing to share information about the reason for an individual’s arrest or the location where an individual will be detained
- routinely wearing masks and refusing to provide identification
- questioning residents and visitors about their immigration status based on their race, ethnicity, language, accent, occupation, or presence at certain locations such as day-labor sites, bus stops, car washes, and parking lots
“The unnecessary and likely unlawful tactics being used by many federal immigration enforcement authorities have generated widespread fear in the community, which cause our residents to be fearful of leaving their homes to go to work, school, access City services, take public transportation, attend medical appointments, and other necessary daily activities, and as a result children are denied access to public education, individuals are prevented from seeking necessary healthcare, local businesses are negatively impacted, and residents are discouraged from working with law enforcement agents to report, solve and prevent minor and serious crime,” the City Council resolution declared.

“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 of Hillsboro reaffirms its commitment to being a welcoming and inclusive city and to shielding residents to the best of our ability from fear, discrimination, and unjust enforcement practices. In response to expanding federal immigration actions that threaten civil liberties and community trust, this resolution reiterates the City’s commitment to support and comply with Oregon’s Sanctuary Promise Laws, and directs that City resources will not be used to enforce federal immigration laws. By adopting this resolution, Hillsboro strengthens its sanctuary measures, upholds its core values, and supports the wellbeing of all residents and visitors, especially immigrant and other vulnerable communities.”

In addition, the Council’s declaration:
- condemns ICE enforcement actions targeting students and families, and calls for an immediate end to such actions
- calls on all elected officials, including members of Congress from Oregon, to publicly denounce these unconstitutional actions, demand immediate oversight and transparency from immigration enforcement agencies, and work to ensure the rights of all individuals — regardless of immigration status — are fully protected under the Constitution
- demands that the Oregon Congressional delegation prioritize a bill at the next Congressional session offering comprehensive immigration reform that aligns enforcement with our economic needs, humanitarian values, and community realities
- requests that members of the Legislature and the Governor take action to protect our immigrant and other vulnerable communities from the unlawful and unnecessary actions being taken by federal agents in the name of immigration enforcement, such as imposing a mask ban or imposing identification requirements
Additional Actions

Within the City Council’s emergency declaration resolution, City of Hillsboro employees are directed to:
- continue to identify and clearly label with signage those non-public spaces within City-owned or City-leased buildings that are not accessible to the general public, including offices and other restricted-entry areas.
- continue to coordinate with community partners and other municipalities — including immigrant rights advocates, legal services providers, educational institutions, local business owners, neighborhood leaders, and faith leaders — to develop and maintain programs for communication, outreach, and community support to address the emergency impacts of federal immigration enforcement.
- participate in trainings on City and State sanctuary policies and laws, including:
  - the minimum requirements of state law
  - Know Your Rights
  - The Sanctuary Promise Act and how to report to the violations hotline
  - How to report to appropriate immigrant rights coalitions and other agencies
  - Roleplaying scenarios of different Federal Immigration Authority interactions
  - How to report U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency activity and violations
  - Information on how and where employees can access relevant City resources and additional learning materials
  - Resources for City employees directly affected by federal immigration authority enforcement action
  - Protocols for supervisors on responding if employees are detained, as well as guidance on compassionate leadership and support for employees
The Council’s declaration also requires reports to the Council regarding the implementation of the resolution, to include:
- Employee training completion rates and an evaluation of the City’s training programs
- Known Federal enforcement activity on City property and within facilities
- Known violations of the Sanctuary Promise Act by City employees
- Information on sanctuary-related policies and procedures in similar local jurisdictions
- Review and evaluation of the City’s efforts to implement this resolution that is informed by feedback from employees, equity and language subject matter experts, labor union representatives, immigration rights organizations, faith leaders, community leaders, nonprofits, and educational institutions.

Meeting Video:

November 18, 2025 Hillsboro City Council Meeting — Watch | Download

Meeting Agenda:

City Council meeting agenda for November 18, 2025

News Media Coverage:

November 4, 2025: City Council Work Session on ICE Response

The City Council heard from community members during its regular meeting on November 4, 2025, and held a work session to discuss ICE impacts in the community.

Key Takeaways:

The City announced $200,000 in new community grant funding available from the City of Hillsboro. This is in collaboration with community partners to distribute the $200,000 of new funding to organizations serving impacted community members. The newly announced funding is in addition to $200,000 previously identified through the City’s Community Services Grant program, for a total of $400,000 that will be disbursed to community-based organizations by the City of Hillsboro.

“The first thing that everyone in our community should know is that if we had the power to legally stop ICE, we would stop ICE,” said Mayor Beach Pace after the meeting. “The City Council is united in that. But we don’t have that power because of the supremacy clause in the U.S. Constitution, Article 6, Paragraph 2. We cannot interfere with federal agents. If we could, we would stop ICE.”
In between the two-part work session, the Council listened to about three hours of public comment as dozens of community members shared their personal concerns, fear, and pain caused by ICE activity in Hillsboro. The entire 5-hour meeting is on TVCTV‘s website for Hillsboro City Council meetings.

"Our community’s comments were incredibly moving and emotional,” Mayor Pace said. “We remain united as a City Council in our desire to support our community. We’ve also received feedback to stop talking about what we cannot do and discuss what we can do. What we can do is invest in our community, our residents, and our businesses. And we are doing that with community grants to support community members impacted by immigration enforcement.”

What the City of Hillsboro Police Department Is Doing

During the November 4, 2025, meeting, Hillsboro Police Chief Jim Coleman told the Council that the Police Department responds to all calls, including calls for help when someone is concerned about people in masks who may be ICE agents.

Chief Coleman emphasized that the department would act against anyone impersonating an ICE agent. However, to date, the department has not received any credible reports of such incidents.

As a sanctuary city operating under Oregon law, the Hillsboro Police Department does not coordinate with ICE or enforce immigration law. Chief Coleman emphasizes that community members should contact HPD if they are witnesses to or victims of a crime, regardless of their immigration status. Hillsboro Police officers are dedicated to serving and protecting all members of the community and will not inquire about anyone’s immigration status.

Coleman and others have worked to educate community members that if they interfere with federal agents, they can create safety risks for everyone involved and may result in their arrest, use of force, or other repercussions.

Meeting Video:

November 4, 2025 Hillsboro City Council Meeting — Watch | Download

Meeting Agenda:

City Council meeting & work session agenda for November 4, 2025

News Media Coverage:

October 17, 2025: Mayor Pace & Chief Coleman Address the Community

This message was shared on October 17, 2025

We know there is fear and concern in our community about federal immigration enforcement activities. Many are afraid to go to work, go to school, access crucial resources, or simply live their lives. We cannot prevent federal immigration enforcement, but we want everyone to feel safe and know they have support.

Know your rights: SOAR Immigration Legal Services
Get help: Call PIRC (Portland Immigrant Rights Coalition) at 1-888-622-1510
Document safely from a distance
Call HPD for public safety concerns: 911 (emergency) or 503-629-0111 (non-emergency)
Know what it means to be a sanctuary city

As a sanctuary city, the Hillsboro Police Department does NOT coordinate with ICE or enforce immigration law. HPD is committed to serving and protecting everyone.

Please watch this message from Mayor Beach Pace and Police Chief Jim Coleman.

[Video Transcript]

I’m Hillsboro Mayor Beach Pace.

I’m Hillsboro Police Chief Jim Coleman.

MAYOR PACE
We’re seeing an increase in ICE activity in Hillsboro, and we want to talk about it with you. In Hillsboro, we are a sanctuary city. We welcome everyone by including everyone and making our community accessible for all.
Our City Council is united around our commitment to fostering a welcoming and thriving environment for all. We want everyone to be safe – always and in every situation. You have rights. And we want you to know your rights.
Our City website has information from SOAR Immigration Legal Services and other resources.

CHIEF COLEMAN
The First Amendment protects your right to protest through freedom of speech and peaceful assembly. Peaceful is the important part.
In our community, we want to show support for each other.
We respectfully ask that you not endanger yourself or others, or break any local, state, or federal laws, because we care about you. We don’t want you or anyone else harmed.

MAYOR PACE
So, what can you do? If you believe you are observing an illegal action, record it, but do it responsibly and from a safe distance.
If you believe someone is being detained by ICE, notify an immigrant rights organization. You can call PIRC, the Portland Immigration Rights Coalition, at 1-888-622-1510
If someone is being detained, and it is safe to do so, ask the person to share their name and the phone number of someone they trust that can be contacted immediately.
If you believe someone is impersonating ICE or law enforcement, call 9-1-1 immediately.

CHIEF COLEMAN
As a sanctuary city, we do not coordinate with ICE, nor do we enforce immigration law. We prioritize engaging with our community to help meet their public safety needs. Please continue to call us if you see public safety concerns in our community.
And remember, Hillsboro Police officers have very clear standards for their uniforms and can be easily identified. HPD officers can provide identification showing that they are a member of the Hillsboro Police Department.

MAYOR PACE
Do not hesitate to ask any Hillsboro Police Department officer for their credentials if you have any doubt if they are part of the Hillsboro Police Department team.

CHIEF COLEMAN
While HPD is not involved with ICE activity, please remember that ICE agents are federal immigration law enforcement officers. Community members should not interfere with ICE activity for the safety of everyone involved.
Federal agents are governed by federal laws and policies and are not generally subject to state and local laws when acting in their official capacity. However, community members are subject to state and local and federal laws if they are in confrontation with federal agents.

MAYOR PACE
We are sharing this message because we care about you and we want you to be safe. Please take care of yourselves and our community in a safe way.

MAYOR PACE & CHIEF COLEMAN
Thank you.

Updated message shared on October 29, 2025. Community resources and a video message from Mayor Pace and Chief Coleman are shared further below from October 17.

As a reminder, the City of Hillsboro Police Department does NOT have jurisdiction over U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) or other federal immigration personnel. HPD officers CANNOT intervene in ICE operations and CANNOT assist you or protect you from federal arrest or legal consequences if you interfere with ICE operations.

We do not want to create a false sense of security – you CANNOT legally impede federal immigration agents, or their vehicle movement, or break local laws. If you are instructed by federal law enforcement to move back, or other instructions, not following that command may lead to your arrest by federal agents or other repercussions.

Please read this more detailed message from HPD:

When You See HPD Officers Near ICE Activity

You may see Hillsboro Police officers or vehicles in the same area as U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) or other federal immigration personnel.

The presence of HPD officers near ICE operations should NOT be interpreted as cooperation or coordination with ICE.

When HPD officers are near ICE activity, it is typically because:

We happen to be in the same general location in our city
We have been called to the area to address a public safety issue
We are responding to a call for service
We are monitoring for immediate local safety concerns like traffic hazards or crowd management

We understand that seeing Hillsboro police in these situations can be concerning, especially for families and individuals directly affected by immigration enforcement.

What HPD CANNOT Do

Under Oregon law, local law enforcement agencies, including HPD, cannot use their resources to enforce federal immigration laws. This means:

HPD does not assist or participate in ICE enforcement actions
We do not intervene in ICE operations, and we cannot protect Hillsboro community members from federal arrest, or legal consequences of those who interfere with federal agents.

Important SAFETY Reminder

Please do not interfere with ICE or any law enforcement personnel while they perform their duties. Interference, even when well-intentioned, can create safety risks for everyone involved and may result in your arrest, use of force or other repercussions.

Hillsboro is a diverse and welcoming community. HPD is committed to serving all who live, work, and visit here with fairness, respect, and compassion.

May 5, 2025: Supporting Latino/Latina/Latine Businesses & Community Members in Hillsboro