Controversial Letter Urging Identification of People of Color Emerges in Oregon

A controversial message circulates in Lincoln County, Oregon, pushing locals to report individuals of color suspected to be undocumented. The local sheriff's department has advised against responding to this divisive appeal.

Lincoln County's sheriff's office issued a communication urging the community not to gather or share information about people based solely on presumed race or immigration status. This reminder was part of a larger statement released last Thursday.

The contentious letter suggests that residents note down the license details of cars owned by people of color, with the justification of identifying undocumented persons. It asked for this information to be sent to Homeland Security after January 21, potentially for deportation purposes.

Sheriff Curtis Landers voiced concerns in the statement, emphasizing that such targeting disrupts trust and jeopardizes the inclusive environment the county strives to sustain.

The FBI acknowledged the existence of these distressing and discriminatory letters sent out in Lincoln County, located about 120 miles from Portland and home to approximately 51,000 residents.

Sheriff Landers reported finding a copy of this letter in his own mailbox.

It remains uncertain how long these letters have been in circulation.

While the content of the letter falls under free speech protection, acting on its instructions could conflict with Oregon's legal framework.

Various state laws in Oregon safeguard immigrant rights, explicitly preventing local and state bodies from probing individuals solely for immigration enforcement.

Oregon's Attorney General, Ellen Rosenblum, denounced these discriminatory intimidation measures, affirming their lack of place in the state.

Amidst this backdrop, President-elect Donald J. Trump has expressed intentions to curb immigration levels and enforce stricter border controls.

During his administration, Trump aimed to terminate Temporary Protected Status for numerous countries and ramp up border security and deportations.

Vice President-elect JD Vance also announced plans to halt mass grants of Temporary Protected Status, which allows individuals to remain in the U.S. if returning to their country poses risks.