Oregon sheriff concerned about letters asking people to track possible immigrants

LINCOLN CITY, Ore. — A sheriff in Oregon says he has contacted the FBI and is increasingly concerned about a letter circulating in his rural, coastal community asking people to write down the license plate numbers of possible immigrants. The sheriff’s office said it was committed to upholding Oregon’s sanctuary law, which prohibits local police in most cases from inquiring about an individual’s immigration or citizenship status and sharing that information with federal authorities. “We are encouraging our community members to do the right thing and use compassion as we encounter these types of messages,” the sheriff’s office said in its news release. “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.” Oregon Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum similarly condemned the letters.