Should illegal aliens be a "protected" class of people? The Governor seems to think so.

Alert date: 
Sunday, June 4, 2017
Alert body: 

PRESS RELEASE

OREGON HOUSE DEMOCRATS

For Immediate Release For More Information, Contact:

May 31, 2017 Scott Moore: 503-986-1904

Legislators, Gov. Brown, and AG Rosenblum File Bill to Protect Privacy of Oregonians

   HB 3464 limits information collection and increases privacy

in response to federal anti-immigration actions

SALEM—Responding to increasing concerns about aggressive federal anti-immigration actions, Reps. Teresa Alonso Leon (D-Woodburn) and Diego Hernandez (D-Portland) have filed a bill to strengthen privacy protections for vulnerable populations. HB 3464 was filed on behalf of Gov. Kate Brown and Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum.

“Our immigrant communities are living in fear,” says Rep. Alonso Leon. “I have heard from children who are afraid to go to school in the morning, because they aren’t sure if their parents will be home at the end of the day. I won’t stand for these inhumane immigration enforcement tactics that are tearing families apart—this bill is our chance to protect these communities.”

The increase of ICE raids and deportations in Oregon has created an environment of fear in communities throughout the state. Families all over Oregon have been torn apart, children left without fathers, mothers, and grandparents. People are even afraid to go to local shops, hurting small businesses.

“Now more than ever, we must stand together as Oregonians to guard against prejudice and discrimination,” Governor Brown said. “Oregon relies on a diverse workforce to support a growing economy, and we must ensure the civil rights of all Oregonians are protected and that the rule of law is respected.”

HB 3464 serves to strengthen—in line with state and federal laws—our state’s protections by changing the ways that public bodies are authorized to collect and share data with the federal government. It also requires the Attorney General to provide guidance to all public bodies as to how to interact with immigration enforcement activities, and encourages all public bodies to implement the guidance and or update their confidentiality policies.

“We have heard from school administrators, county judges, and other public bodies that they want and need guidance from the state on how to respond if ICE comes asking for information,” says Rep. Hernandez. “HB 3464 provides clarity and consistency for our public bodies, so a school principal knows how they can protect the private information of students and their families. Allies and community members are looking to the legislature to protect our immigrant neighbors from federal overreach.”

HB 3464:

  • Encourages all public bodies to adopt policies, for consistency and clarity statewide, on the collection of information and how to process requests of information by the federal government.

  • Provides guidance from the Attorney General to public bodies on these policies and complying with federal and state law.

“There is a lot of fear right now in our immigrant communities stemming from increasingly aggressive tactics by federal enforcement agencies. This impacts the entire community—families and businesses, schools, hospitals, courthouses, and other public facilities, as everyone struggles to understand their rights and responsibilities under the law. This bill is a way to help make sure our communities have clear guidance so they are in compliance with state and federal law. It is imperative that we take this important step to protect the rights of all Oregonians,” said Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum.

HB 3464 is expected to be referred to the House Rules Committee and should be scheduled for a public hearing shortly.

 

[To see this news release in pdf version as originally distributed, click here.]