With the National Guard poised to descend on Portland, city councilors are using their limited power to take a stand against federal intervention.

Next Wednesday, several councilors will propose different ways to protect Portlanders from federal law enforcement.

While the proposals won’t bring significant changes like those the city’s executive branch or federal courts can enact, they offer a way for city leaders to show unity during a moment where national politicians and political commentators are painting a divisive picture of the city.

“Symbolism really matters right now, and a show of unity and being defiant to a federal government is really important,” said Councilor Candace Avalos, who represents East Portland’s District 1.

Avalos is one of the four councilors behind the lengthy “Protect Portland Initiative," a resolution focused on urging the city’s administrative offices to take action against federal agents. She said she was inspired by leaders in other cities, like Chicago, who felt threatened by federal officers and immigration raids.

The resolution asks city administrators to create an immigrant affairs liaison, monitor federal officers’ treatment of protesters, deliver regular reports on the city’s interactions with federal law enforcement, create policies that bar city staff from sharing any personal information about Portland residents with federal officials, among other things.

Avalos is sponsoring the measure alongside Council President Elana Pirtle-Guiney, Council Vice President Tiffany Koyama Lane, and Councilor Olivia Clark. The four women each represent one of Portland’s four geographic districts. While all are Democrats, they also represent the span of the council’s relatively narrow political spectrum.

“I do think it’s important to have a moment where we say to the community, ‘You might not always see us standing together, but across council, we are all pointed in the same direction to tell our federal government that their actions in our community are not OK,’” said Pirtle-Guiney.

If approved by council next Wednesday, the resolution will only nudge city executives to carry out their demands. But under Portland’s new form of government, there’s little else councilors are able to do.

Change of Portland government

In the past, Portland City Council members had direct oversight over assigned city bureaus, giving them more power over city operations during times of unrest.

For example, during the 2020 racial justice protests, police officials asked to park city dump trucks to block traffic downtown and corral demonstrators. Then-commissioner Chloe Eudaly, who oversaw the city’s transportation bureau at the time, denied the request, citing opposition to police protest response tactics.

Under the new voter-approved government format, which went into effect in January, councilors are responsible solely for proposing legislation. The mayor and city administrator oversee all city bureaus.

That’s why Mayor Keith Wilson has been able to make swift decisions about blocking off — and opening — streets surrounding South Portland’s U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement building, which has been a focus point of anti-Trump protests.

It’s also why last week Wilson was able to quickly put signs up at city buildings limiting public access to certain rooms or offices, in an attempt to keep federal officers from entering.

If the resolution passes, it will be largely up to city council to ensure it’s being carried out. That’ll be done by councilors regularly checking in with the mayor’s office and other administrative leaders to ensure they’re following council’s direction.

Avalos said it’s an opportunity for councilors to exert some power over the executive branch.

“This is an important muscle that we need to flex our oversight of the government,” she said.

Councilor Sameer Kanal is bringing a similar policy to his peers on council next week, that holds a bit more weight.

While Oregon is a sanctuary state, Kanal’s ordinance would codify the city’s “sanctuary city” status. That non-binding label, first declared by the City Council in 2017, largely means city law enforcement officers are prohibited from cooperating with federal immigration authorities.

Kanal’s policy would turn this into city law and extend it to all city departments — not just law enforcement. It would also formalize Wilson’s signage plan for city buildings.

It’s one of several policies Kanal is working on to respond to perceived federal threats. He’s also planning to introduce policies that ban federal officers from covering their faces and further limiting the use of chemical munitions in the city.

This is just the beginning, Kanal said.

“This is not something we can respond to once and move on from,” he said. “While we continue to do normal business of the city — fill potholes, build sidewalks — we have to be checking in on each action by the federal government and respond.”

Councilors speaking on national TV

Councilors are using other ways to express their opposition to federal actions in Portland. Over the past two weeks, at least five city councilors have appeared on national television to condemn President Donald Trump’s plan to deploy federal officers to Portland.

On Thursday, both Councilor Mitch Green and Councilor Angelita Morillo appeared on CNN to rebut Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem’s claims that city leaders are “covering up the terrorism” on Portland streets.

Noem appeared to be referencing demonstrators protesting Trump’s immigration policies outside of the South Portland ICE building.

Green was blunt.

“When Kristi Noem visits our city to lie to the American people about the condition on the ground,” he said, “make no mistake: What she’s faced with is protesters dressed in frog suits and chicken suits who are frankly mocking her presence, because that’s the level of respect she deserves.”

Mayor Wilson, meanwhile, has declined national television interviews.

News Source : https://www.opb.org/article/2025/10/10/protect-portland-initiative-councilors-federal-agents/