The Toledo city council, Lincoln City’s mayor and the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office are condemning a racist letter they received or is circulating that encourages residents to help round up and deport “brown folks” who may be in the country illegally.
The letter, titled “The Brown Round-Up Part 1,” said Jan. 21, 2025 will mark the beginning of the “largest round-up of brown illegals in our history.” It encouraged people to write down license plates of people who may be undocumented for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, presumably after President-elect Donald Trump enters office.
It is not clear where the letter came from or who was behind its circulation.
But members of the Toledo city council received the letters mailed to them at home, as did Lincoln City mayor Susan Wahlke. The Toledo council condemned the letter at its meeting Wednesday night. Wahlke said she turned over the letter sent to her to police.
The letters arrived as organizations that work with immigrants and local governments prepare for a federal immigration crackdown after Trump takes office. On Wednesday, Oregon Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum released an educational toolkit to help immigrants in Oregon learn their rights under the state’s Sanctuary Promise Act.
Oregon law generally prohibits state and local public agencies from collecting information about people’s immigration status or country of birth.
Lincoln County Sheriff Curtis Landers released a statement Thursday saying the letter encourages a type of behavior that is “harmful, divisive, and inconsistent with the values we uphold as public servants and community members.”
“We strongly advise against engaging in activities such as those outlined in this letter, including collecting or sharing information about individuals based on their demographic or perceived immigration status,” the statement said.
Landers also reminded the community that his office “does not inquire about, document, or share such information with Immigration and Customs Enforcement.”
— Compiled by YachatsNews
Racist people are starting to feel comfortable revealing their racism and bigotry to their communities. Don’t let them get away with spreading hatred and “othering” those who may be different from you. Stand up for yourself and others who need your help. Stop hatred and division by joining together.
The US is a nation of laws. “Oregon law generally prohibits state and local public agencies from collecting information about people’s immigration status or country of birth.”
“Oregon became the first sanctuary state in the nation in 1987, when lawmakers made a choice to support immigrant and refugee communities by prioritizing dignity, safety, and human rights.” – Oregon Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum
As of March 2021, the following states claim sanctuary status:
California
Colorado
Connecticut
Illinois
Massachusetts
New Jersey
New Mexico
New York
Oregon
Vermont
Washington