The Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office is conducting an internal investigation into whether county policies were violated when immigration agents arrested a man at an appointment with sheriff’s deputies, a spokesman said.
The man was arrested Dec. 21 when he went to the Multnomah County Justice Center for a required appointment with sheriff’s deputies, said his lawyer, Kasia Rutledge. He was required to meet with the deputies once a week as a condition for his pre-trial release, Rutledge said.
Rutledge declined to identify the man, citing confidentiality issues. She could not say Jetbahis what he was charged with, she said.
Deputies originally told the man he could come in any time Dec. 21, but they later called back to ask him to come in at 10 a.m., Rutledge said.
When he arrived, immigration agents arrested him, she said.
Rutledge suspects sheriff’s officials notified immigration authorities of her client’s appointment.
“ICE would have never known when or where he was supposed to be otherwise,” she said.
Rutledge’s client was awaiting trial and had not been convicted of a crime, she said. He in the process of getting his citizenship, she said.
He is now in a federal detention center in Tacoma and will likely be deported, Rutledge said.
Lt. Chad Gaidos, a Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office spokesman, said the sheriff’s office is aware of the case and is investigating for any policy violations.
Gaidos declined to comment further on the specifics of the incident, citing the open investigation.
Sheriff Mike Reese has directed all staff, if immigration authorities contact them, to not release any more information or access than would be provided to the general public, according to a staff memo obtained by The Oregonian/OregonLive. Any requests for more information or access should be routed to the sheriff’s records division, the memo said.
Reese has said the sheriff’s office does not use agency resources or personnel to enforce federal immigration law and does not hold people on ICE detainers.
Reports of an immigration crackdown at Multnomah County Courthouse prompted condemnation from defense attorneys and a joint statement this weekend from Portland leaders expressing “grave concern” about the resulting fear.
Multnomah County and Portland leaders said last week that they are committed to remaining sanctuary jurisdictions for undocumented immigrants.
— Samantha Matsumoto
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