Oregon lawmakers have decided that when federal immigration agents step onto school property, the most urgent priority is sending out a notification blast.
On Tuesday, the Oregon House passed House Bill 4079, requiring public schools, colleges, and universities to notify families, staff, and students “as expediently as possible” when federal immigration authorities enter campus property.
The bill passed 35-22, with all Republicans voting against it, joined by Democratic Rep. Tawna Sanchez of Portland.
Supporters argue the measure is about calming fears. Opponents say it is another example of Oregon entrenching politics inside classrooms while creating unnecessary panic.
Federal immigration enforcement has historically avoided so-called “sensitive areas” like schools. That policy was rescinded under the Trump administration, though Homeland Security officials maintain enforcement actions on school grounds are rare and require high-level approval.
Still, Oregon lawmakers say rumors and isolated incidents have left some students fearful. Rep. Sarah Finger McDonald, D-Corvallis, said families in her area kept children home after immigration activity was reported nearby.
Critics of the bill say schools already have notification systems for genuine safety threats like lockdowns and evacuations. They argue that requiring districts to broadcast federal immigration activity risks politicizing school communications and potentially escalating situations that might otherwise be resolved quietly.
Rep. Darin Harbick, R-Rainbow, said the bill prioritizes political messaging over student safety. He noted that immigration agents are not tasked with targeting schools and questioned why rural districts should be required to implement policies they neither need nor want.
Lawmakers amended the bill to remove provisions that would have required school staff to verify agents’ credentials or request judicial warrants, citing concerns that it could place administrators in confrontational situations.
Under the final version, schools must confirm immigration agents’ presence and notify their communities, unless a court order blocks disclosure or the information would threaten health or safety.
The bill now heads to the Senate.
For critics, the larger concern is the direction Oregon continues to take. While much of the country debates border enforcement and federal authority, Oregon appears focused on ensuring that when immigration agents show up, the first response is not compliance, but a notification campaign.
Supporters call it transparency.
Opponents call it political theater.
And once again, Oregon finds itself leaning hard into policies that make it stand out from the rest of the country.
