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Unlawful. Immoral. Cruel. Trump's latest attack on our fundamental freedoms.
Unlawful. Immoral. Cruel. Trump's latest attack on our fundamental freedoms.
Late last week, Donald Trump unlawfully invoked the 226-year-old Alien Enemies Act, a dangerous and cruel attack on all of our basic freedoms and rights. More below on how Oregon For All is responding to this latest dangerous escalation from the Trump administration.
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PROTECTING IMMIGRANT & REFUGEE COMMUNITIES
WHAT'S HAPPENING: Late last week, the Trump administration invoked the 1798 Alien Enemies Act, a dangerous and unlawful escalation of the administration’s attacks not only on immigrant & refugee communities but on all of our basic freedoms. The 226-year-old law allows the detention and removal of immigrants when the United States is at war with another nation — which, of course, our country is not. The Alien Enemies Act has only been invoked three times in history, and not since World War II, when it was used to justify mass internments of people of German, Italian and especially Japanese ancestry. Under the Act and a similar executive order, an estimated 120,000 people with Japanese heritage – including U.S. citizens – were sent to concentration camps during World War II.
Over the weekend, a federal judge issued an order temporarily blocking the administration from deporting anyone under the act. But the Trump administration ignored the court’s order to turn around two planes that were taking people to prisons in El Salvador. The Trump administration claimed the planes were already over international waters and the court order did not apply – a stunning and deeply troubling refusal to respect the Constitution, the courts, and our system of government.
History has shown that the use of the Alien Enemies Act leads to significant violations of basic constitutional rights and human rights, just as it did for people of German, Italian, and especially Japanese ancestry during the 1940s. Oregon is home to more than 400,000 immigrants and refugees who are a vital part of our communities — our neighbors, our coworkers, and our friends. All people in our nation, including immigrants and refugees regardless of immigration status, have the constitutional right to due process. Now is the time to stand together against the reckless and cruel policies of the Trump administration — a threat to all of us.
Sandy Chung, executive director of the ACLU of Oregon, put it simply: “The Trump administration is taking dishonest positions on this Act to avoid the federal government’s basic responsibilities under the law: to respect the constitutional and legal protections that immigrants and refugees have in our country. It is vital that we stop Trump from acting like a dictator because all of our rights depend on protecting our democracy from him.”
HOW WE'RE FIGHTING BACK:
Join the Oregon For All coalition to keep up to date on recent news and action to take to protect immigrants living in Oregon.
Call 1-888-622-1510 to report suspected ICE activity to the Portland Immigrant Right Coalition (PIRC) hotline, who will verify if ICE activity occurred, connect detained individuals with lawyers as needed, and support a detained person’s loved ones with appropriate resources.
Volunteer with or donate to the PIRC hotline.
PROTECTING OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS
WHAT'S HAPPENING: Just yesterday, Trump signed an executive order to destroy the U.S. Department of Education. The reality is that the President does not have the authority to eliminate a cabinet-level agency, only Congress does, and congressional action would require the support of democratic senators.
This is the latest in a long list of ways Donald Trump is abusing his office and trying to circumvent the Constitution. We won’t stand by while our students, workers, and public education system are used as pawns in Trump and Elon Musk’s ruthless abuses of power and taxpayer dollars.
HOW WE'RE FIGHTING BACK:
Call your members of Congress and urge them to stand with students, teachers, and public schools.
Share the information below with your friends and encourage them to take action.
PROTECTING THE FREEDOM TO READ
WHAT'S HAPPENING: Right now, the Oregon Legislature is considering a bill that would protect students’ rights to read and learn. SB 1098 would prohibit schools from instituting book bans, which have been used by anti-democracy groups to remove books from schools that deal with important topics like race, gender identity, LGBTQ+ history, and more. Censorship based on a historically-disenfranchised identity is not only wrong, it’s discrimination.
With Elon Musk and DOGE rapidly rolling back every diversity, equity, and inclusion policy they can, now is the time for state lawmakers to double down and reaffirm Oregon values – that every person, regardless of their identity, deserves to have their voice heard and to see themselves represented.
HOW WE'RE FIGHTING BACK:
Email your lawmaker to urge them to vote yes on SB 1098.
RSVP to attend ‘No More Book Bans: Defending the Freedom to Read’ on March 27, hosted by the ACLU of Oregon, Basic Right Oregon, Don’t Shoot PDX, and author Alice Faye Duncan.
UPCOMING TOWN HALLS AND EVENTS
Want to make your voice heard? Show up to a town hall, rally, or event in your community where Oregonians will be gathering to speak out, push back, and build a better future for our families:
NO MORE BOOK BANS EVENT
Portland
Date: March 27th
Time: 2:30 pm
SEIU HANDS OFF MEDICAID RALLIES
In response to Trump and Congressional Republicans pushing a disastrous budget framework that could mean $880 billion in cuts to critical programs like Medicaid and SNAP over the next decade, SEIU is hosting #HandsOffMedicaid rallies across the state. The proposed cuts would threaten health care for the 1 in 3 Oregonians who rely on the Oregon Health Plan – that’s 1.4 million of us, including kids, veterans, new parents, seniors, rural Oregonians, and people with disabilities.
Show up to make your voice heard and urge Rep. Cliff Bentz (OR-2) to vote NO on the final budget.
Date: April 12
Time: 11 am
Location: Alton Baker Park, 200 Day Island Rd., Eugene, OR 97402
Date: April 16
Time: 3:30 pm
Location: Willson Park, Salem Capitol, 700 Court St NE, Salem, OR 97301
NALC FIGHT LIKE HELL RALLIES
On Sunday, March 23, the National Association of Letter Carriers are hosting local rallies to fight against the Trump administration’s plans to dismantle the Postal Service. Find more information here and the event closest to you below:
Keizer
Date: Sunday, March 23
Time: 12:00 pm
Location: Keizer Post Office, 5454 River Rd, Keizer, OR 97303
Eugene
Date: Sunday, March 23
Time: 12:00 pm
Location: 7th & Pearl St, Eugene, OR 97401
Portland
Date: Sunday, March 23
Time: 1:00 pm
Location: Pioneer Courthouse Square, 701 SW 6th Ave, Portland, OR 97204
Medford
Date: Sunday, March 23
Time: 1:00 pm
Location: Vogel Plaza, Corner of E. Main St, Medford, OR 97501
OREGON LEGISLATURE WAYS AND MEANS ROADSHOW
With chaos at the federal level threatening the programs and services that working families rely on, it’s more important than ever that the Oregon Legislature passes a budget that protects our communities and invests in our future. Over the next month, Oregon’s budget writers will be touring the state to hear from local communities about their priorities.
Date: Saturday, March 22
Time: 10:00 am to noon
Location: Mt. Hood Community College Theater, 26000 S.E. Stark St.
Date: Friday, March 28
Time: 5-7pm
Location: Liberty Theatre Astoria, 1203 Commercial St.
Date: Friday, April 4
Time: 5-7pm
Location: Old Warm Springs Elementary School, 1112 Wasco St.
Date: Friday, April 11
Time: 5-7pm
Location: Eastern Oregon University, Hoke Union Building #339, 1 University Blvd.
Date: Friday, April 16
Time: 5-7pm
Location: State Capitol, Hearing Room F
Date: Friday, April 25
Time: 5-7pm
Location: Klamath Community College, Building 4 Commons, 7390 South 6th St.
Are you or your organization fighting back and have updates or actions to share with the Protect Oregon community? Email us!