Questions Arise about Multnomah County Undersheriff Attending Anti-immigration Event

Questions Arise about Multnomah County Undersheriff Attending Anti-immigration Event


Oregon’s Statewide Immigrant Rights Organization seek answers from the Multnomah County Sheriff

Portland, Ore.-- Today, a report appeared in Willamette Week identifying a top official of the Multnomah County Sheriff’s office as attending an “Anti-Immigration Training Session in Texas".

Multnomah County Undersheriff Tim Moore is reported to have attended a “Border School” over the weekend organized by the immigration restrictionist group, Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR). According to the article, FAIR is labeled as a “hate group” by the Southern Poverty Law Center.

Willamette Week’s report ran alongside a photo featuring Multnomah County Undersheriff Moore and Morrow County Sheriff Kenneth Matlack on each side of Oregonians for Immigration Reform President Cynthia Kendoll. (photo at right)

“The Multnomah County’s Undersheriff’s attendance of FAIR’s “border school” raises several big questions”, said Francisco Lopez, Executive Director of Causa Oregon.

“With Undersheriff Tim Moore participating in an event with an anti-immigration group from here in Oregon, does that mean the sheriff has an understanding with anti-immigration groups?” Lopez questioned. “Is Moore the right man for this job, considering he is having ideological ties with an anti-immigration group?”

Lopez added that an investigation of the department’s top officials may be in order. “This makes the Latino and Immigrant Communities very uncomfortable knowing that a top official from Multnomah County would attend such an event.”

This story breaks just weeks after the ACLU of Oregon filed a lawsuit against the Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office for unlawfully detaining a Portland resident at the request of federal immigration officers despite a judge’s order releasing him on his state charges.

The ACLU’s lawsuit claims the Sheriff’s detention policy on immigration-related requests violates Oregon law – which prohibits the use of state and local resources to detain people suspected only of violating civil immigration restrictions – and the Oregon Constitution.

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About Causa Oregon

Causa, Oregon's Statewide Immigrant Rights Organization is the largest Latina and Latino civil and human rights and advocacy organization in the Pacific Northwest. We work to defend and advance immigrant rights through coordination with local, state, and national coalitions and allies. For more information, visit www.causaoregon.org

Resources:

Willamette Week’s report: http://www.wweek.com/portland/blog-29249-multnomah_county_sheriff_official_attends_an_anti_.html

Oregon ACLU’s Lawsuit against the Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office: http://www.aclu-or.org/content/aclu-challenges-multnomah-county-sheriffs-office-unlawful-imprisonment

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