In a unanimous decision, Multnomah County has bolstered its commitment to being a sanctuary community with new policies and the allocation of $250,000 to support families facing increased federal immigration enforcement. The measure, enthusiastically endorsed by Commissioners Shannon Singleton and Jessica Vega Pederson, aims to ensure that county services remain accessible to all residents, providing much-needed relief to those most at risk.
The approved funding and directives were announced following a public briefing on November 18 and a virtual town hall on December 15. "Today as families are being torn apart by masked agents across our County and our state, as parents, grandparents, sons and daughters are being harassed and kidnapped on their way to work, to school or to seek care — based on the color of their skin and regardless of their citizenship status — we must act," Vega Pederson told Multnomah County News after co-sponsoring the resolution.
Commissioner Singleton highlighted her team's efforts since February, including training as MigraWatchers and escorting children to school, noting, "Seeing this work come together the way it has is a reflection of an expansive community engagement effort to ensure that the voices of the most impacted people are centered." According to the news release, the resolution brings a series of actions that seek to address key concerns such as facilitating access to services, providing flexibility for service providers, and ensuring robust communication and coordination among staff and service providers to share information and develop rapid response networks.
Stressing the urgency of the situation, Commissioner Meghan Moyer remarked, "Because the time for symbolic gestures has passed, and I believe actively supporting our neighbors in this unbelievably cruel attack is incredibly important." The funding will be distributed to both contracted providers and community organizations not currently under contract, endeavouring to meet the needs of various culturally specific groups. This includes a $75,000 allocation for organizations to offer legal aid, utilities and rental assistance, child care services, case management, and healthcare services, with the application process set to launch in January 2026.
The county's resolution also calls for public accountability, demanding reports on the specific actions the county is taking or evaluating to implement resources that protect and support individuals affected by federal immigration policies. Finally, the Board will consider an ordinance by no later than February 25, 2026, that would codify additional provisions in Multnomah County’s original 2016 sanctuary declaration, as outlined in the official news release.
