Border Patrol in Our Backyard: Portland Talks About ICE

Immigration remains a lightning-rod issue across the country—and here in Portland, it’s especially personal. As a sanctuary city, Portland limits cooperation between local law enforcement and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Yet protests outside the ICE facility in Southwest Portland—some peaceful, some not—are sparking new debates about how immigration laws are enforced.

This week, Crossing Party Lines invites you to join a thoughtful, respectful conversation about ICE and interior immigration enforcement. Whether you view ICE as an essential agency upholding the law, a broken system in need of reform, or something in between, your perspective is welcome.
Together, we’ll ask:

• Who should have the final say in immigration enforcement—federal, state, or local authorities—and why?
• Even if you support the role of ICE, are there tactics that go too far in your view? What values or life experiences shape that opinion?
• Can you recall a moment—personal or public—that deeply influenced your views on immigration enforcement?
• What would it look like for Portland to resolve its immigration tensions in the next decade—and what principles would help us get there?
• Why do certain places—schools, hospitals, churches—feel “off-limits” to enforcement efforts, and how did those boundaries become so meaningful to you?

You don’t need to be an expert—just come with curiosity and a willingness to listen. This is a chance to hear from neighbors with different experiences and political beliefs in a space grounded in civility, curiosity, and connection.
Whether you’re here to question, challenge, defend, or simply understand, your voice matters.