Oregon Governor Tina Kotek on Monday signed an order prohibiting the state Department of Motor Vehicles from issuing undercover license plates to agents of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The move comes amid a federal lawsuit against Oregon, filed days after the state suspended the program for all federal employees.
The key reason is Oregon’s sanctuary law, which limits local law enforcement cooperation with federal immigration authorities. That law bars local police from detaining people solely on suspicion of immigration violations, from notifying ICE about detainees without a warrant, and from using state resources for federal immigration raids. As a result, federal authorities lose direct access to local jails and databases, which slows deportations of undocumented immigrants but protects them from being targeted for their immigration status when seeking routine help, such as from police or hospitals.
Undercover plates, unlike standard federal plates, do not bear markings indicating government fleet ownership; they look like ordinary Oregon plates with the tree design. Kotek said ICE agents terrorize local communities by using such vehicles for mass deportations under President Trump’s policies. The governor noted that disguised officers without warrants frighten residents, especially people of color, and undermine trust in law enforcement.
At the same time, Kotek allowed the DMV to continue issuing undercover plates to other federal agencies not involved in immigration raids, as well as to state and local law enforcement. That clarification followed the DMV’s April decision to suspend the program for all federal employees in order to review its compliance with Oregon law. In a letter, the state’s DMV head quoted the U.S. deputy attorney general: “We cannot spend state resources to assist federal immigration enforcement.”
Federal authorities, who filed the lawsuit in Portland, insist that undercover plates are critical for the safety of agents investigating cartels, gangs and human traffickers. Without such plates, lawyers for the federal government argue, officers’ work becomes extremely dangerous.
Oregon and neighboring Washington have historically had liberal political cultures with strong support for immigrant rights and protections against racial profiling. Local officials say cooperating with ICE undermines communities’ trust in police, impeding investigations of real crimes and deterring undocumented immigrants from seeking help. Additionally, because federal policy often shifts between administrations, the states seek to retain control over local resources and avoid participating in mass deportations that could harm agriculture and construction — industries that employ many immigrants. Since January, Washington has also suspended issuing confidential plates for Department of Homeland Security units and has demanded the return of plates already issued.
Based on: Oregon stops issuing undercover plates for ICE agents