Why It Matters
A legal settlement reached last week is forcing a Northwest Oregon county jail to overhaul how it cooperates with federal immigration authorities, marking another enforcement victory for groups using Oregon’s sanctuary laws to limit local law enforcement collaboration with federal immigration agencies. The outcome has implications for other Oregon counties operating similar arrangements with federal agencies.
What Happened
The Columbia County Jail, operated by the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office in St. Helens, reached a settlement agreement on May 14 resolving a lawsuit filed in January 2026 by the Rural Organizing Project, a Cottage Grove-based immigrant advocacy group. The suit alleged the jail’s arrangement with the U.S. Marshals Service violated Oregon’s sanctuary protections.
Under the settlement, Columbia County agreed to remove U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement as an authorized user under its U.S. Marshals Service detainment contract — an agreement the Sheriff’s Office had entered in March 2024. The county also agreed to stop holding individuals whose only charges involve illegal entry or illegal re-entry into the country.
The Rural Organizing Project argued that a Justice Department memo issued at the start of the Trump administration had effectively authorized U.S. Marshals to act in the capacity of immigration enforcement officers, including detaining individuals for civil immigration violations without criminal charges. The organization contended this made the jail’s arrangement a vehicle for circumventing Oregon’s sanctuary law.
Columbia County Sheriff Brian Pixley acknowledged the outcome in a public statement. “This agreement provides clear guidance moving forward and ensures our policies remain consistent with Oregon law while continuing to prioritize public safety,” Pixley said, adding that his office remains committed to “integrity, accountability, and a commitment to public safety.”
Additional Policy Changes
Beyond the core immigration detainment issue, the settlement requires several operational changes at the Columbia County facility. The jail must:
- Stop requiring individuals to declare their country of birth during booking
- Remove a checkbox labeled “illegal” from its booking paperwork
- Provide a Spanish translation of a voluntary consular notification form
- Allow individuals to decline to complete the consular notification form
Should the county alter any of its policies related to the settlement, it would be required to notify the Rural Organizing Project in advance.
By the Numbers
- May 14, 2026: Date the settlement was finalized
- January 2026: When the Rural Organizing Project filed the original lawsuit
- March 2024: When Columbia County entered its U.S. Marshals Service detainment agreement
- 2021: Year Oregon lawmakers strengthened the state’s sanctuary law and added civil suit authority
- 2nd legal win secured by the Rural Organizing Project under the strengthened sanctuary statute
Zoom Out
The settlement is part of a broader legal pressure campaign targeting Oregon county jails and local law enforcement agencies over cooperation with federal immigration authorities. A separate lawsuit filed in December 2025 brings similar allegations against the Multnomah County Jail, suggesting the litigation strategy is expanding.
Supporters of U.S. Marshals detainment contracts argue the agreements provide much-needed funding streams for county jails operating on tight budgets. Critics, including the advocacy groups driving these lawsuits, characterize the arrangements as a workaround to Oregon’s sanctuary protections.
Oregon’s attorney general and governor have also signaled some openness to revisiting sanctuary statutes amid broader debate over federal-state tensions on immigration enforcement. Meanwhile, the upcoming governor’s race is expected to put immigration enforcement policies further in the spotlight, with Republican candidate Christine Drazan positioning the issue as a contrast with incumbent Governor Tina Kotek.
What’s Next
The Rural Organizing Project has indicated it intends to continue using Oregon’s sanctuary laws to hold other jurisdictions accountable. The ongoing Multnomah County Jail case will be a key test of how far the legal strategy can extend into Oregon’s most populous county. Any policy changes by Columbia County going forward will trigger required notification to the advocacy group under the terms of the agreement.
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