About OFIR - Oregonians For Immigration Reform
OFIR's History
Oregonians for Immigration Reform was organized in 2000 by Frank Brehm, Jim Ludwick, and Elizabeth Van Staaveren. There had been an earlier organization of the same name, led by Sharon Sheppard, which functioned from about 1993 to 1997.
In January 2000, plans for organizing a new OFIR began to be laid. In June 2000, a letter was mailed to prospective members inviting them to join together in creating OFIR. On the basis of positive responses, the first meeting was held on Sept. 18, 2000, in Wilsonville. The group functioned for several months informally, without officers, although by-laws were adopted at the Feb. 24, 2001 meeting. At the meeting on June 2, 2001, Vern Cook brought up the need for a titular head of OFIR, and members voted to name these officers temporarily: Jim Ludwick, President; Frank Brehm, Vice President; Elizabeth Van Staaveren, Secretary and Treasurer. At the meeting on Nov. 10, 2001, those officers were formally elected.
Since OFIR was established, immigration – especially illegal immigration – has become a much more visible issue state-wide and nationally. We count among our achievements, passage of the 2008 bill requiring proof of citizenship to obtain an Oregon driver license, and the defeat of bills granting instate tuition to illegal aliens introduced in each session in the state Legislature from 2003 through 2011.
The 2013 Oregon Legislature, despite OFIR's continued efforts to educate Legislators about the negative effects of such legislation, passed an in-state tuition bill for illegal alien students and included an emergency clause so that citizens could not contest the new law. It has already been implemented.
However, in 2014, OFIR launched a citizen's veto referendum petition drive to overturn SB 833 - a new law giving state issued photo ID, in the form of driver privilege cards, to illegal aliens. Protect Oregon Driver Licenses collected enough signatures from concerned citizens across the state to qualify for the November 2014 ballot as Ballot Measure 88.
Ballot Measure 88 was defeated with 66% of Oregonians voting NO - nearly a million voters! Thirty five of thirty six counties defeated Measure 88.
For more information about the Measure 88 campaign - please visit our dedicated campaign website: http://www.protectoregondl.org/
Most recently, OFIR worked to REPEAL Oregon's 31 year old sanctuary statute. The Repeal Oregon's Sanctuary Law Committe, filed a citizen's initiative petition. Almost entirely a volunteer effort and collecting the required 88,000+ valid signatures, Initiative Petition 22 qualified in July 2018 to be on the Nov. 2018 General Election ballot.
As Ballot Measure 105, the YES on 105 campaign worked to educate the public about why the statute should be repealed. But, opponents to our effort outspent us with an $8 million budget - to our $400k budget. We did everything we could do with the resources we had available to us. Unfortunately, our efforts were not successful and Measure 105 was defeated.
For more information about the Measure 105 campaign - please visit our dedicated campaign website: https://www.stoporegonsanctuaries.org/
Principles of Oregonians for Immigration Reform
Immigration bills in the Oregon Legislature that OFIR has addressed
Beginning in OFIR’s early years, the organization kept members informed about bills in the State Legislature and in Congress dealing with immigration. Following is a list of bills in the Oregon Legislature that OFIR followed and on which its officers and members testified and/or campaigned. In addition, OFIR officers and members participated in national campaigns led by FAIR and NumbersUSA regarding legislation in Congress.
Bills related to immigration in the Oregon Legislature from 2003-2019:
2003 – SB 10, instate tuition
HB 2578, proof of citizenship to obtain driver licenses
HB 2051, repeal ORS 181.850
HB 2813, proof of citizenship to vote
2005 – SB 769, instate tuition
HB 2583, proof of citizenship to vote
HB 2608, proof of citizenship to obtain driver licenses
HB 2947, proof of citizenship to obtain driver licenses (this bill was preferred over HB 2608, see OFIR email of May 9, 2005: “HB 2608 is the bill to require proof of citizenship or legal residency in order to get an Oregon driver license."
[OLIS records begin with 2007]
2007 – HB 2705, instate tuition - by Rep. Cannon
SB 424, Proof of citizenship to obtain driver licenses
HB 2201, Healthy Kids (opposed by OFIR, benefitted illegal aliens)
HB 2459, English language – by Rep. D.Nelson
HB 2680, Requires prospective voter registrants to provide proof of citizenship.
HB 2715, Basic pilot program (early version of E-Verify)
HB 2827, Real I.D.
HB 3358, deny tax deduction for wages to illegals
2008 – SB 1080, proof of citizenship to obtain driver license, passed (OFIR email of May 7, 2008 names Nay voters)
2009 – HB 2939, instate tuition
HB 3364, Rapid Repat
HB 3432, proof of citizenship to vote
HB 2708, E-Verify
HB 2815, passed – meaningless bill on tracking businesses that pay employees in cash
2011 – SB 742, instate tuition. Passed Senate; had 2 House hearings but did not get out of Committee. Discharge petition by Senators & Reps. failed. A list of signers of discharge petition may be available.
SB 845, driver privilege licenses (cards for illegal aliens)
HB 2804, proof of citizenship to vote – Thatcher, heard by Rules Cmte on 2-21, several testified.
2013 – HB 2787, instate tuition – passed
HB 2364 (Thatcher) and HB 3428 (Weidner), proof of citizenship to vote.
SB 833, driver cards for illegals – passed; Referendum led by OFIR launched.
2014 – HB 4054, change ballot title of Referendum – failed
(effort to get Gov. Kitzhaber to join other Governors in suit against Obama amnesty, and not to give driver licenses to amnestied illegal aliens)
2015 – HB 2177, universal voter registration – passed
HB 2043, E-Verify – no hearings
HB 3449, proof of citizenship to vote (Weidner)
SB 932, instate tuition, Opportunity Grants for illegal aliens – passed.
OR Attorney General writes misleading title for proposed Initiative on E-Verify.
Lawsuit filed by illegal alien advocates to overturn M88 victory re driver licenses.
2017 – HB 2355, changed penalty for felony from 365 to 364 days excusing criminal aliens from deportation
HB 3464, Privacy for illegal aliens, shielding from questions on img status
SB 229, relating to elections, puts initiatives under thumb of legislature
SB 558, Cover all kids (tax-paid medical care for children of illegal aliens)
2018 – HB 4111, driver licenses to some illegal aliens, DACA & TPS. (passed)
(OFIR spent most of the year promoting IP 22 /Measure 105, Stop Oregon Sanctuaries)
2019 – HB 2015, granting driver licenses to illegal aliens (passed)
HB 2932, Privacy for criminal aliens (passed)
SB 761, puts all IPs and Referenda in jeopardy through signature regulations (passed)SB 856, establishes New Americans office in Governor’s office to ensure delivery of benefits to legal and illegal immigrants. (failed)
HB 3398, allowing lawsuits against law enforcement agencies (failed)