We, the undersigned, call on the Common Council of the City of McMinnville to hold its regularly scheduled meeting on November 25, 2025, and to take immediate action by reviewing and adopting an ordinance declaring a local state of emergency in response to escalating federal immigration enforcement actions.

Across McMinnville, families, workers, students, and longtime residents are living in fear as federal agents conduct actions that undermine safety, disrupt daily life, and violate basic civil liberties. These actions are harming our neighbors, destabilizing businesses, creating barriers to healthcare and education, and eroding the trust that holds a community together.

Local governments have both the responsibility and the authority to safeguard the well-being of their residents—especially when federal actions threaten constitutional rights, public safety, and community cohesion. A state of emergency declaration is a critical first step toward coordinating support, protecting vulnerable residents, and ensuring that McMinnville remains a welcoming, inclusive, and safe community for all. 

We call on the Common Council to meet as scheduled, review the attached, proposed ordinance, and adopt the emergency measures McMinnville urgently needs.

McMinnville deserves leadership that shows up, stands up, and protects all who call this city home.

A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY OF McMINNVILLE RECOGNIZING THAT A STATE OF EMERGENCY EXISTS WITHIN THE COMMUNITY DUE TO THE IMPACTS OF FEDERAL IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT ACTIONS AND SETTING FORTH VARIOUS ACTIONS THE CITY SHOULD TAKE TO ADDRESS SUCH IMPACTS.

WHEREAS, the City of McMINNVILLE recognizes and values the diverse contributions of all individuals, affirming its commitment to upholding the dignity and respect of all people regardlessof race, national origin, ethnicity, immigration or refugee status, heritage, culture, religion, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, ability, age, housing status, or economic status; and

WHEREAS, immigrants, foreign-born and refugee populations make up a vital portion of McMINNVILLE’s community and economy, contributing significantly as friends, neighbors, workers, business owners, community and faith leaders, reminding us that immigration is not a threat to be managed but a legacy to be honored and a strength to be protected; and

WHEREAS the rights afforded by the Constitution of the United States of America apply to all residents, visitors and citizens; regardless of time or place while present in the United States of America.

WHEREAS, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers have engaged in various types of conduct that infringe on the constitutional rights of members of the McMINNVILLE community, including but not limited to: arresting and detaining individuals without affording due process rights; refusing to share information about the reason for an individual’s arrest or the location where an individual will be detained; routinely wearing masks and refusing to provide identification; and questioning residents and visitors about their immigration status based on their race.

WHEREAS, multiple US citizens, lawful permanent residents and other individuals legally present in the United States have been wrongfully apprehended, held without judicial warrants or charges, reflecting a disturbing pattern of constitutional and human rights violations by immigration enforcement authorities; and

WHEREAS, the detention of US citizens, lawful permanent residents and other individuals who are legally present in the United States without judicial warrants or formal charges and the use of immigration enforcement to intimidate communities is a dangerous escalation of the erosion of democratic norms and the rule of law; and

WHEREAS, keeping families together and children protected and safe is a fundamental value for the City of McMINNVILLE and mass deportation efforts, especially without due process, threaten the well-being of McMINNVILLE families and neighborhoods, harm vulnerable populations, cause economic pain and hardship, and interfere with businesses and day-to-day life across the City; and

WHEREAS, the unnecessary and likely unlawful tactics being used by many federal immigration enforcement authorities have generated widespread fear in the community, which cause our residents to be fearful of leaving their homes to go to work, school, access City services, take public transportation, attend medical appointments, and other necessary daily activities, and as a result children are denied access to public education, individuals are prevented from seeking necessary healthcare, local businesses are negatively impacted, and residents are discouraged from working with law enforcement agents to report, solve and prevent minor and serious crime; and

WHEREAS, such actions by federal immigration enforcement authorities institutionalize racial profiling and encourage discrimination; and

WHEREAS, recent data from the State of Oregon shows a significant impact to immigrant’s health and well-being due to fear of being targeted and/or detained; and

WHEREAS, the foregoing circumstances constitute a significant effect on the health and well-being of the community, which provides cause to necessitate assistance from the City to alleviate the loss, hardship, or suffering resulting from such activity; and

WHEREAS, Oregon became the first Sanctuary State in 1987 and has continued to strengthen its sanctuary laws, most recently through the 2021 Sanctuary Promise Act (HB 3265), which reinforces Oregon’s commitment to protecting immigrant and refugee communities; and

WHEREAS, Oregon Revised Statutes 180.805 through 180.820, and 181A.820 through 181A.829 prohibit public bodies from disclosing immigration status without judicial warrant, restrict immigration enforcement activities at public facilities, and prohibit using public resources to enforce federal immigration law except under narrow circumstances; and

WHEREAS, McMINNVILLE adopted RESOLUTION NO. 2017-03 A Resolution to declare the City of McMinnville as an Inclusive City for all persons, regardless of race, color, national origin, immigration or refugee status, religion, sex, gender identity (including gender expression), sexual orientation, mental, emotionaland physical ability, age, or economic status; and

WHEREAS the City of McMinnville adopted the Mac-Town2032 Strategic Plan stating one of the Goals of the Strategic Plan is to "create a culture of acceptance and mutual respect that acknowledges differences and strives for equity”; and

WHEREAS, the City of McMinnville on October 13, 2020, adopted Ordinance No. 5097, which established the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee ("Committee") to advise the Common Council of the City; and

WHEREAS, in the wake of unconstitutional and unlawful federal immigration practices that have generated fear and anxiety among members of the City’s community, it is necessary for the City of McMINNVILLE to recognize that our community is in a state of emergency and publicly contemplate actions the City could take to address the needs of the community in light of this emergency.