ICE Response and our Local 328 contract; section 5.3
Hi all
With the current upheaval occurring in the federal government and the flurry of executive orders, we are finding ourselves facing the real possibility of federal agents coming into our workplaces. This is a terrible thing for any of us to consider - that we might be asked to stand in front of ICE agents in the halls of our hospital, or the universities of our learning, or our communities.
We are fighting for our rights in our workplaces, in our contracts, in our schools, in our hospitals against any federal administration that seeks to remove them.
So - here is what you should know if ICE/Federal Agents visit your workplace and ask questions about yourself, patients, or otherwise.
If you are approached by a federal agent, immediately call Public Safety at 503-494-4444
You should not speak to ICE agents, other than to refer them to Public Safety.
“Sorry, but I am focused on my work and can’t help you. Contact public safety”
You can’t give them records or information.
“No, I can’t do that. If you need assistance, I have contacted public safety and they can help you”
If you are here on a work VISA - ICE already has your information as a condition of your work visa
If you are here on a visa not sponsored by OHSU, or are undocumented, then OHSU will not share any other information about you without your consent or a court order.
Workers do not share any information regarding patients - this includes confirming scheduled appointments, admission to and location in the hospital, or payment information (including insurance coverage and conditions of eligibility).
If ICE wants to question a patient that they know is already in the hospital there are conditions that must be met
The patient must be under arrest, or a court order must be in place
If that seems to be the case, refer to public safety
Per your contract, section 5.3
“Immigration Status Safety. No OHSU member, in their capacity as an employee
or using the Employer’s records, shall, except as required by applicable law, report OHSU
members or their families to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement or U.S. Customs and
Border Protection or cooperate with any investigation involving these agencies”
It is possible federal agents may not be honest or clear with you regarding whether they have a warrant. You are not expected to evaluate that - you elevate it to public safety and have them wait in a non-patient care area until they’ve arrived.
If you are concerned that public safety will aid ICE agents, due to a 1987 law in the state of Oregon (first in the country to pass one of these) state/local police are not to assist in federal immigration investigations. This is true for our department of public safety, as well as the Portland Police Bureau which has said they will uphold this (1/28/25).
Per Oregon’s Sanctuary Promise: All requests from federal agencies to state or local government agencies or law enforcement about immigration enforcement without a judicial order should be documented, reported and denied by the local agency receiving the request.
If you find yourself in this situation, after you’ve contacted public safety - this is how to reach the state of Oregon for a report
Sanctuary Promise Response Hotline 1-844-924-STAY (1-844-924-7829) Spanish Direct Line: 1-844-626-AMPARO (1-844-626-7276)
Operators are standing by
9am to 5pm Pacific time, Monday – Friday.
Interpreters in over 240 languages.
After hours? Leave a message and we’ll return your call.
To trigger legal observers to assist in documenting a raid, and this is for both while you are at work and while you are in your community - 888-622-1510 Portland Immigrant Rights Coalition
Oregon, AFSCME, and Local 328 stand for the safety, dignity, and human rights of all people who live in the state of Oregon.