Let’s put pressure on County Commissioners to codify vital sanctuary protections

Written By Interfaith Movement for Immigrant Justice

(Letter sample below)

Dear IMIrJ Community,

I hope you are holding moments of care and strength in these times. We are reaching out with an urgent call to action.

On April 9th at 10 am, the Multnomah County Board of Commissioners will hold its final vote on an ordinance to strengthen and codify sanctuary protections for immigrant and refugee communities. 

Right now, commissioners are hearing very little public input, and that silence is putting these protections at risk.

We need your help to increase the pressure.

What you can do:

  • Email your county commissioners (contacts below)

  • Submit a written comment (in any language)

  • Share why sanctuary protections matter to you, your community, or your faith

Why this matters:
Key protections are at risk, including:

  • Ensuring ALL county-funded spaces are protected

  • Providing training and guidance for all workers, including contractors

  • Requiring legal review before any immigration enforcement cooperation

  • Including community voices in implementation

  • Guaranteeing language access from day one

These decisions will directly impact the safety, dignity, and protection of immigrant and refugee families across our region.

Submit your comments before April 9th. Even a short message makes a difference.

How can people submit comment/ testify:

  • This Thursday under "non-agenda item" or

  • Next Thursday under R.1 

  • Or submit written comments at any time between now and then. 

All things submitted through the form get sent to all commissioners

Commissioner Contacts:

Below is a sample letter you can use or adapt.

*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*

Sample Letter (feel free to personalize):

Subject: Support Strong Sanctuary Protections in Multnomah County

Dear Commissioners,

I am writing to urge you to fully support and strengthen the proposed sanctuary ordinance and resolution ahead of the April 9th vote.

Sanctuary protections are essential to ensuring that immigrant and refugee communities—and the staff and organizations who serve them—can live and work with dignity, safety, and trust in public institutions.

I strongly urge you to:

  • Apply restricted access protections to ALL county-funded spaces, programs, and contracts

  • Ensure training is available to all workers, including contractors and temporary staff

  • Require that County legal experts review any requests from federal immigration enforcement

  • Include community organizations and members in administrative rulemaking

  • Provide proactive language access by translating materials into the top languages spoken in the county

These measures are not optional—they are necessary to ensure that sanctuary policies are meaningful, effective, and equitable.

[Optional: Share your personal story or connection]
You may include why this issue matters to you—whether through your work, your faith, your community, or your own lived experience. Personal stories help demonstrate the real-life impact of these decisions and can be especially powerful.

Our community is watching and counting on you to take bold action. Please stand on the side of protection, inclusion, and justice.

Sincerely,
[Your Name]

[Your Organization / Community, if applicable]

Interfaith Movement for Immigrant Justice
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