Marion County: Let’s keep up the pressure!
Our county is wasting taxpayer money on a divisive lawsuit challenging Oregon’s 40-year-old sanctuary law instead of investing in our real livability and community needs.
In an appearance with the Salem City Club last Friday, Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield said Marion County did not contact him prior to filing their lawsuit.
Rayfield also took questions from members of the nonprofit civic engagement group that hosts regular events at the Willamette Heritage Center, a former textile factory near the state Capitol.
He criticized the government of Marion County, which contains most of Salem, for suing the state and saying it needed a federal judge to rule on possible conflicts between federal law and Oregon’s nearly 40-year-old sanctuary law that prohibits the state and local governments from helping to enforce federal immigration law without a court order.
“Our sanctuary status law was passed in 1987,” Rayfield said. “That’s a long time that they could have come to the Department of Justice and asked us for clarification if they had been confused. Maybe they’ve been busy.”
“Oregon AG Rayfield talks federal lawsuits, consumer protection at Salem City Club,” Oregon Capital Chronicle, Sept 12, 2025