Federal immigration tactics in Oregon have grown increasingly forceful over the past year, prompting new public fractures among Oregon Republican lawmakers. While these events are unfolding to the south, they carry direct implications for Cowlitz County residents who travel, work, or receive medical care in Oregon—and for local officials who regularly coordinate with their Oregon counterparts on public safety and regional mobility.

The renewed scrutiny follows a string of arrests and use-of-force incidents involving federal agents, including traffic-stop detentions, warrantless arrests, and a January shooting by a U.S. Border Patrol agent in a Portland hospital parking lot. Reporting by Oregon Public Broadcasting documents how these cases have triggered mixed—and at times hesitant—responses from Republican legislators in Salem.

At a January press conference, House Republican Leader Lucetta Elmer interrupted her Democratic counterpart during a discussion of federal agents detaining a 7‑year‑old at a Portland clinic. Elmer argued that public fears were being overstated but declined to provide sourcing, according to OPB’s reporting.

State Sen. Kim Thatcher, R‑Keizer, acknowledged concerns after a U.S. citizen in Salem was reportedly injured during a federal stop but emphasized that federal agents also face personal risk. Others, including Sen. Dick Anderson and Rep. Kevin Mannix, focused on limiting federal activity by creating clearer pathways for information‑sharing between state and federal authorities.

Meanwhile, statewide polling indicates a shift in public opinion. A February PBS/NPR/Marist poll found that 65% of Americans believe Immigration and Customs Enforcement has gone too far in its enforcement actions—a notable increase from mid‑2025. OPB reports that federal immigration arrests in Oregon increased tenfold from 2024 to 2025, with a declining share of arrestees having criminal convictions.

Several Oregon Republican gubernatorial candidates have also begun distancing themselves from the most high‑profile federal enforcement actions. Marion County Commissioner Danielle Bethell raised concerns about masked agents allegedly injuring a U.S. citizen during a January encounter in Salem. Former Blazers player Chris Dudley, now running for governor, called for lowering tensions and creating “channels” for federal removal of violent offenders without broad sweeps through local communities.

For Cowlitz County, the dynamics across the river matter. Thousands of residents commute to Oregon for work or healthcare, and federal immigration activity in the Portland metro area directly affects cross‑border mobility. Southwest Washington law enforcement agencies also routinely coordinate with Oregon authorities on emergency response and inter‑jurisdictional issues. Federal enforcement activity—especially when conducted by masked or unmarked units—raises concerns about misidentification, public safety, and civil liberties in border‑region communities.

As Oregon lawmakers debate what limits, if any, they can place on federal activity in their state, the ripple effects will continue to reach Longview, Kelso, and unincorporated Cowlitz County. The question now is whether regional cooperation can be maintained amid increasing scrutiny of federal immigration enforcement and widening political divisions.

Why this matters

Interstate interactions shape daily life in Cowlitz County. Many local residents regularly cross the Columbia River for work, school, shopping, or medical services. Sudden escalations in federal enforcement in Oregon—especially involving traffic stops or public‑facing operations—can spill into shared transportation corridors such as I‑5 and the Lewis and Clark Bridge. Understanding how Oregon’s elected leaders respond helps local residents gauge potential risks, anticipate disruptions, and evaluate how regional policies intersect with constitutional rights and public‑safety expectations.

Sources

Oregon Public Broadcasting: As Trump’s deportation campaign grows violent, some Oregon Republicans begin to push back