Portland City Council Finance & Governance Committee (Whole) 10/29/26
Immigration detentions in Oregon jumped 50% this year (700+ vs 462), but the city's entire immigrant affairs effort is one staffer with no budget. Cops meanwhile fought off a tear gas ban, admitting they've used chemical munitions in 30 of 975 operations since 2021 — no vote taken, debate continues in two weeks.
Summary
Immigration detentions in Oregon are up about 50% over last year even as they have become less visible, according to Brenda Alvarado, the city's first Immigrant Affairs Lead. In the first eight months of 2026, more than 700 people were detained, compared with 462 in the same period of 2025. Alvarado said federal agents are relying on tactics like rescheduled 'mega' immigration hearings that people miss without notice, revoked Temporary Protected Status, and license plate checks in big box store parking lots. She outlined the city's work over the past year: protocols for city employees approached by federal agents, a network of 64 bureau liaisons, FOIA requests to federal agencies, Know Your Rights forums for Asian and African immigrant communities, and coordination with state and congressional offices. She noted her program is one person and was an unfunded mandate. Councilors pointed to budget talks and better public communication, citing examples like Chicago's multilingual bus ads. Her annual report is due next week.
The Portland Police Bureau argued against a city ban on tear gas and other chemical munitions. Police leaders said the bureau has not used tear gas for crowd control since September 2020, and that state law passed in 2022 already sets strict limits. They said the SWAT-style team used chemical munitions in about 3% of roughly 975 operations since 2021, mostly to end standoffs with armed people without gunfire. They warned a ban could push officers toward more dangerous force and end mutual aid from other agencies. Environmental Services said filters and street cleaning near the South Waterfront ICE facility have kept federal tear gas residue out of the river at a cost of about $28,000. City attorneys said the city can regulate that water pollution even when federal agencies cause it, but not air pollution.
Councilors pushed back on several points. Councilor Avalos asked for evidence that further restrictions would make things more dangerous. Councilor Koyama Lane asked about research on reproductive harm, and Councilor Pirtle-Guiney asked how much time crowds get to disperse; an audience member disputed the police answer. Chair Kanal said he could not find some of the quotes cited in the police slides and noted that bureau policies can change without a council vote. No votes were taken. The chemical munitions discussion will continue within the next couple of weeks, with the remaining councilors' questions kept in order. Next week's committee meeting will be held entirely online because of HVAC work at City Hall.
Key Points
- Citywide Immigrant Affairs Lead Brenda Alvarado presented a one-year progress report on the Sanctuary City ordinance and Protect Portland Initiative resolution passed in October 2025. She reported that detentions in Oregon rose about 50% (from 462 in the first eight months of 2025 to over 700 in the same period of 2026) and described 'mega master hearings,' TPS revocations, and license plate scanning at big box store parking lots as current detention pipelines.
- City work to date includes FOIA requests to ICE, USCIS and EOIR (USCIS denied the request; ICE returned incomplete data), two immigrant Know Your Rights forums, yellow/orange card employee protocols for interactions with federal agents, 64 internal immigrant affairs liaisons, PPB reporting tools, and an emergency response plan built with PBEM.
- Alvarado said her one-person program is an unfunded mandate and identified external communication and Know Your Rights outreach as the main needs. Councilors raised budget funding, possible surveillance and camera concerns, and how many Portlanders are affected by TPS changes.
- PPB and BES presented on chemical munitions use and argued against a city ban. PPB said it has not used tear gas for crowd control since September 2020. Its tactical team (SERT) used chemical munitions in 30 of about 975 operations since January 2021, at roughly $16,000 per year. PPB warned that a ban could jeopardize mutual aid agreements with OSP, MCSO and East Metro SWAT.
- BES reported that catch basin filters and street flushing near the South Waterfront ICE facility have cost about $28,000 since May 2025. City attorneys confirmed the city can regulate tear gas water pollution from federal agencies through city code, but has no comparable authority over air quality.
- No votes were taken. The chemical munitions item was continued with the councilor question queue retained.
Action Items
- Brenda Alvarado to release the Sanctuary City annual report next week, including ways council can help with external communication
- Alvarado to check with the state Office of Immigrant and Refugee Advancement on the number of Portlanders affected by TPS changes
- Alvarado to look into Councilor Green's concern about security cameras in affordable housing being accessible to federal immigration agents
- City to appeal inaccurate ICE FOIA data and review the USCIS denial
- Schedule a return of PPB and BES presenters to continue chemical munitions Q&A, keeping the existing queue
- PPB to identify sources for quotes on slides 16 and 17 that Chair Kanal could not locate
- PPB to provide council with training lesson plans and curriculum summaries
- PPB to discuss public reporting on chemical munitions deployments, including dispersal warning times, with the City Attorney and City Administration
- City Administrator to assess resources needed for air quality monitoring and community harm cost recovery
- Councilors interested in a public arts and monuments discussion to notify the chair, for possible January scheduling
Issues Discussed (16)
Immigrant Affairs Lead Brenda Alvarado presented a one-year progress report on the Sanctuary City ordinance, noting her program remains a one-person, unfunded mandate despite coordinating 64 bureau liaisons, employee protocols, and Know Your Rights forums amid a 50% rise in Oregon immigration detentions. Councilors discussed potential budget support and improved public communication but took no formal funding action, with her full annual report due the following week.
Portland Police Bureau officials argued against a proposed ban, noting no tear gas use for crowd control since 2020 and citing 2022 state law restrictions, while warning a ban could push officers toward more dangerous force and jeopardize mutual aid agreements. Councilors pushed back with pointed questions on dispersal times, reproductive health research, and discrepancies in cited sources; no votes were taken, and the discussion is set to continue within the next couple of weeks.
Portland Police Bureau pushed back against a proposed ban on tear gas and chemical munitions, citing state law limits since 2022 and no crowd-control use since September 2020, while warning a ban could increase use of more dangerous force options. Councilors raised pointed questions about evidence, reproductive health impacts, and dispersal timing, with no vote taken and discussion set to continue within the next couple of weeks.
Referenced during broader public safety discussion, but the meeting summary does not contain specific details about police response times or call volume data.
Not substantively addressed in this meeting; the session focused on the Immigrant Affairs Lead's one-year progress report and a Portland Police Bureau presentation opposing a ban on chemical munitions.
Not substantively discussed in this meeting; the summary covers immigrant affairs reporting and chemical munitions policy debate, with no mention of FY 2027-28 budget calendar adoption.
Not substantively discussed in this meeting; the session focused on immigration enforcement impacts and a proposed ban on police chemical munitions, with no reference to a strike team intervention program for affordable housing properties.
Immigrant Affairs Lead Brenda Alvarado delivered a one-year progress report on the Sanctuary City ordinance, revealing her program remains a single-person, unfunded mandate despite Oregon detentions rising about 50% (from 462 to over 700 people in the first eight months of the year). Councilors discussed budget allocations and improved public communication strategies, such as Chicago's multilingual outreach ads, as Alvarado's full annual report is due the following week.
The committee reviewed Portland Police Bureau's opposition to a proposed ban on tear gas and chemical munitions, with police citing no crowd-control use since 2020 and existing 2022 state law limits, while councilors questioned safety claims and dispersal time data. No votes were taken, and the chemical munitions debate will continue in the coming weeks.
Chair Kanal questioned the accuracy of Portland Police Bureau's presentation, noting he couldn't verify some cited quotes and pointing out that bureau policies can change without council oversight or a vote. Councilors also discussed broader transparency needs, including better public communication on immigration enforcement (citing Chicago's multilingual bus ads) and the unfunded, single-staff nature of the city's Immigrant Affairs program.
Immigrant Affairs Lead Brenda Alvarado delivered a one-year progress report on the Sanctuary City ordinance and Protect Portland Initiative, highlighting a 50% rise in Oregon immigration detentions and outlining city efforts like employee protocols, a 64-bureau liaison network, and Know Your Rights forums, while noting her role remains a one-person, unfunded mandate. Councilors discussed potential budget support and improved public communication strategies, such as multilingual outreach, ahead of her formal annual report due the following week.
Portland Police Bureau leaders opposed a proposed ban, citing no crowd-control tear gas use since 2020, 2022 state law limits, and use in only about 3% of roughly 975 SWAT operations since 2021 to resolve armed standoffs, warning a ban could increase danger and jeopardize mutual aid agreements. Councilors challenged the bureau's claims, questioned dispersal timing and reproductive health research, and Chair Kanal noted discrepancies in cited sources; no vote was taken, with discussion set to continue in coming weeks.
Immigrant Affairs Lead Brenda Alvarado delivered a one-year progress report on Portland's Sanctuary City ordinance, revealing Oregon detentions rose about 50% (462 to 700+) while noting her program remains a one-person, unfunded mandate despite building a 64-member bureau liaison network and running Know Your Rights forums. Councilors discussed budget needs and better public communication (citing Chicago's multilingual bus ads) ahead of her full annual report due the following week.
Police Bureau leaders opposed a proposed city ban on chemical munitions, citing state law limits already in place since 2022, no crowd-control use since 2020, and warning that restrictions could push officers toward more dangerous force or jeopardize mutual aid agreements. Councilors challenged the data presented, with Chair Kanal questioning cited quotes and others seeking evidence on safety and health impacts; no votes were taken and discussion will continue in coming weeks.
Environmental Services reported spending about $28,000 on filters and street cleaning near the South Waterfront ICE facility to keep federal tear gas residue out of the river, while city attorneys clarified Portland can regulate that water pollution but lacks authority to address the associated air pollution. No votes were taken, and the broader chemical munitions discussion is set to continue in the coming weeks.
Immigrant Affairs Lead Brenda Alvarado delivered her one-year progress report on the Sanctuary City ordinance, noting detentions in Oregon rose about 50% while her program remains a one-person, unfunded mandate. Councilors discussed budget needs and improved public communication strategies, citing examples like Chicago's multilingual outreach ads, with her full annual report due the following week.