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Immigration Resources
Know your rights: SOAR Immigration Legal Services
Get help: Call PIRC (Portland Immigrant Rights Coalition) at 1-888-622-1510
Document safely from a distance
Call Cornelius Police Department for public safety concerns: 911 (emergency) or 503-629-0111 (non-emergency)
Local Cornelius Resources:
"We believe that a strong community requires the inclusion of everyone."
Adelante Mujeres offers Latine women and their families holistic programs and the tools to achieve self-determination in the areas of education, leadership training, and enterprise.
Visit Adelante Mujeres for more information.
Centro Cultural will continue to advocate for their core values of equity, belonging, and ensuring that everyone in our community thrives, regardless of immigration status.
With programs and services that continue to evolve to meet the needs of our communities, removing barriers to health, well-being, and economic mobility.
"To be a part of Centro is to be a part of a family." No matter who you are or where you come from, there's a place for you at Centro.
Visit Centro Cultural for more information.
Virginia Garcia Memorial Health Center is proud to serve patients that have immigrated to the U.S. from countries all around the world.
Visit Virginia Garcia to visit a clinic today.
City of Cornelius Utility Billing Relief Program
City of Cornelius customers who receive services from government assistance programs or meet household income guidelines may be eligible for bill relief on three (3) utility bills not to exceed $450 in total within a 12-month period. Assistance is based on available funding.
Visit the City of Cornelius Utility Billing Relief Program Page.
Portland General Electric (PGE) Income-Qualified Bill Discount
PGE offers an Income-Qualified Bill Discount program to support customers during challenging times. Through this program, eligible households can receive a monthly discount ranging from 15% to 80% off their energy usage.
Visit PGE to learn more.
NW Natural Income-Qualified Discount Program
The NW Natural Bill Discount Program helps Oregon households reduce their monthly gas bills. Based on income level, eligible customers may receive a discount ranging from 15% to 85%.
Only one application is required, and no income verification is needed. The application can be completed in just a few minutes online, by email, by mail, or over the phone.
Vist NW Natural to learn more.
- What does is mean to be sanctuary state?
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As a sanctuary state since 1987, Oregon stands for the safety, dignity and human rights of all Oregonians. Oregon was the first state in the nation to pass a statewide law stopping state and local police and government from helping federal authorities with immigration enforcement. In the ensuing decades, the law was updated several times.
To strengthen existing sanctuary laws, the Sanctuary Promise Act (HB 3265 ») was passed in 2021. The Act increases safety and protection measures for immigrant communities through increased support, as well as transparency and accountability regarding government interactions with federal immigration authorities.
- Is the Cornelius Police Department working with ICE to make arrests?
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No. It is against Oregon law for state and local law enforcement or public agencies (state and local government offices) in the state of Oregon to participate directly or indirectly in immigration enforcement without a judicial warrant. Federal immigration authorities are prohibited from operating private detention centers or accessing non-public spaces in jails. State and local police are prohibited from acting on non-judicial warrants (see the Oregon Department of Justice Glossary). The Sanctuary Promise Act requires all requests made by federal agencies to state and local law enforcement and government agencies regarding immigration enforcement without a judicial order to be documented, reported, and denied. There may be exceptions to each of these.
- Do other federal laws require the City to assist with enforcement of federal immigration laws?
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No. Local governments have no authority to enforce federal immigration laws unless they enter into agreements with the federal government. Without a voluntary agreement, a local government official has no authority to enforce federal immigration law.
- How can I tell if someone is a Cornelius Police officer?
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Community members can identify Washington County law enforcement patrol officers by the uniform and badges they wear. Please note that while patron officers wear uniforms, detectives and certain special police teams will wear plain clothes. All Cornelius Police officers will identify who they are when asked and do not work with federal immigration officers.
Washington County Law Enforcement Identification Guide: English | Español
Immigration Resources:
El Escudo is designed to empower immigrant families by providing the necessary information to defend their rights in various situations, from interactions with authorities to accessing medical services, the workplace, and educational systems. This resource is intended to offer a path toward security, ensuring that individuals know they have the right to be treated with dignity and respect, regardless of their immigration status.
Information sourced from the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) website
- Immigrant and Refugee Community Organization's (IRCO) Know Your Rights preparedness packet »
- Oregon Law Center (OLC) and Latino Network's Family Preparedness Packet:
- Immigrant Legal Resource Center's (ILRC) ILRC Family Preparedness »
- The ILRC’s Red Cards » (in 18 languages) help people assert their rights and defend themselves in many situations, such as when ICE agents go to a home.
- ILRC's Know Your Rights and What Immigrant Families Should Do Now in English » | Spanish » | Chinese » | Korean » | Arabic » | Russian » | Tagalog » | Vietnamese »
- Latinx Alliance of Lane County and United for Immigrant Justice's Family Preparedness: Guide for Immigrant Families »
Information sourced from the Oregon Department of Justice website
- Warrants for immigration arrests that comply with Oregon's sanctuary laws must be:
- issued by a federal court and
- signed by a judge
- Oregon state/local law enforcement may arrest a person if there is a "warrant of arrest issued by a federal magistrate" (ORS 181A.820(5), emphasis added). Oregon law prohibits state/local law enforcement from acting on civil/administrative warrants issued by federal immigration authorities.
- Here are some examples of warrants:
- Sample Administrative/Civil Warrant not compliant with Oregon's sanctuary laws. Note it is issued by DHS (not a federal court) and signed by an immigration officer (not a federal judge).
- Sample Judicial Warrant that is compliant with Oregon's sanctuary laws. It is issued by a federal court and signed by a federal judge.
- ACLU Video example of warrant in Spanish: ACLU Video
Information sourced from the Oregon Department of Justice website
Oregon’s Sanctuary Promise stands for your safety, dignity, and human rights, regardless of your immigration status.
In Oregon, state and local government, including police, are not allowed to enforce federal immigration law unless they have a court order signed by a judge.
If you suspect a Sanctuary Promise Law violation, call the Sanctuary Promise Hotline at 1-844-924-7829.
Monday-Friday, 9am-5pm.
Your information is confidential.
- Sanctuary Promise Hotline Brochure: English | Spanish
- Sanctuary Promise Hotline Flyer: English | Spanish
Visit SanctuaryPromise.Oregon.gov to report online anytime or to learn more.
All people in the United States, regardless of immigration status, have certain rights and protections under the U.S. Constitution. The ILRC’s Red Cards help people assert their rights and defend themselves in many situations, such as when ICE agents go to a home.
Visit Immigrant Legal Resource Center for more information.
- ACLU has created a series of videos to inform and empower community members called We Have Rights: What to Do When Interacting with ICE
- We Have Rights: When ICE is Outside our Doors
- View in: Spanish » | Urdu » | Arabic » | Haitian Creole » | Russian » | Mandarin »
- Remember, we have rights if ICE is outside our doors:
- do not open the door
- ask to see a warrant signed by a judge
- tell them you do not consent to them being at your home
- tell them please leave
- We Have Rights: Inside Our Homes
- View in: Spanish » | Urdu » | Arabic » | Haitian Creole » | Russian » | Mandarin »
- Remember, we have rights if ICE enters our homes:
- tell them you do not agree to their presence or search
- ask to see a warrant signed by a judge
- do not interrupt an arrest
- We Have Rights: In Our Communities, In Our Streets
- View in: Spanish » | Urdu » | Arabic » | Haitian Creole » | Russian » | Mandarin »
- Remember, we have rights if ICE stops us in our community:
- remain silent
- ask to speak to a lawyer
- say you do not agree to their search
- We Have Rights: If ICE Arrests Us
- View in: Spanish » | Urdu » | Arabic » | Haitian Creole » | Russian » | Mandarin »
- Remember, we have rights if we are arrested by ICE:
- We Have Rights: When ICE is Outside our Doors
- remain silent
- ask to speak to a lawyer
- do not sign anything
- ACLU Video, Stopped While Driving in English and Spanish: Watch here »
- Immigrant Defense Project » and Surveillance Resistance Lab » produced this informational webinar called Be Informed: What is ICE? How do they Operate? »
Information sourced from the Oregon Department of Justice website