Measure 105: Vote No

Oregon doesn't have the most admirable history when it comes to systemic racism, but now, and never, is it time to engage in even more of it. Put forth by a group of three Republican Oregon lawmakers, Measure 105 seeks to repeal the 1987 Oregon law that forbids state agencies, including law enforcement, from using state resources or people to detect or apprehend people suspected of being in violation of federal immigration law.

Among the people coming out against Measure 105 is Deschutes County District Attorney John Hummel, who says that the current law already provides clear guidance to local law enforcement officials about how to handle immigration issues. Local police are already allowed to hold undocumented immigrants and to turn them over to immigration officials. Repealing the "sanctuary law," as it's sometimes called, "could force local police to be immigration agents and make more Oregonians afraid to report crimes or testify as witnesses. Even crime victims won't talk to prosecutors, leaving us in the dark and our neighborhoods less safe," Hummel said in a recent TV ad.

What's more, repealing the current law could see Oregonians falling prey to a rising tide of xenophobia and racism in our state and nation. Local law enforcement officials should not be empowered to act as federal immigration agents. They already have enough to do. Vote No on Measure 105.