The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Oregon, along with the Civil Division of the U.S. Department of Justice, has filed a petition to enforce administrative subpoenas directed at four Oregon counties: Clackamas, Washington, Multnomah, and Marion. The subpoenas seek information to help locate ten individuals convicted of violent crimes who are likely subject to removal from the United States.
According to federal officials, these individuals were released into Oregon communities following lengthy prison sentences for offenses such as assault, rape, kidnapping, sexual abuse, robbery, manslaughter, and related crimes. Before their release, federal immigration authorities sent detainers to state officials requesting notification prior to their release. However, since 2021, Oregon public officials have not honored these detainers.
The petition identifies each case without naming the individuals. The offenses include convictions dating back as far as 2004 and as recent as 2018. Several cases involve crimes against minors and multiple counts of sexual abuse or rape. Most offenders were required to register as sex offenders and received post-prison supervision in addition to prison time.
Federal authorities argue that obtaining this information is necessary for apprehending these individuals so they can be removed from the country. The decision by state officials not to honor immigration detainers has resulted in these violent felons being released into local communities since 2021.
“Removing violent criminal aliens from our local communities and country is a matter of public safety and a top priority for federal law enforcement,” said Scott E. Bradford, U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon.
