PORTLAND, Ore. (Apr. 1, 2026) — The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Oregon has filed a federal petition seeking information from four Oregon counties to help locate more than 30 individuals with violent criminal convictions who are believed to be subject to removal from the United States and are currently under local supervision.
The filing, submitted Wednesday in the U.S. District Court, requests records from Clackamas County, Marion County, Multnomah County and Washington County. Prosecutors say the information is needed to identify and locate individuals convicted of serious crimes — including sexual abuse, rape, assault, kidnapping and domestic violence — who were released into Oregon communities after serving prison sentences.
The petition marks the latest escalation in an ongoing effort by federal authorities to obtain information from local jurisdictions in Oregon regarding individuals subject to immigration detainers. Prosecutors pointed to a similar petition granted Nov. 24, 2025, in which the court authorized the release of information to locate 10 individuals with violent criminal histories who had also been released rather than transferred to federal custody.
In that earlier order, the court noted that Oregon law “explicitly permits state law enforcement agencies to exchange information with a federal immigration authority,” a point federal prosecutors emphasized again in the current filing.
According to the petition, more than 300 active immigration detainers are currently lodged with the Oregon Department of Corrections for individuals believed to be subject to removal proceedings. Immigration detainers are requests from federal authorities asking local or state agencies to notify them before releasing an individual and, in some cases, to hold that person for transfer into federal custody.
“The District of Oregon will continue to prioritize the safety of all Oregonians,” said Scott E. Bradford. “We will continue our efforts to prevent violent criminal aliens from further harming our community.”
Detailed list of convictions outlined in filing
The petition includes detailed summaries of dozens of cases involving individuals identified only by number. Prosecutors outlined convictions spanning decades, many involving repeat offenses and victims under the age of 14.
Among the cases cited:
One individual convicted in 2019 of three counts of first-degree sexual abuse involving a child under 14 was sentenced to 225 months in prison, followed by post-prison supervision. Another, convicted in 2018 of first-degree sexual abuse, received a sentence of 75 months and was required to register as a sex offender. A separate individual had convictions dating back to 1996 for sexual abuse, later reoffending and receiving an additional prison sentence in 2018 for first-degree sexual abuse.
Prosecutors also highlighted cases involving multiple and violent offenses:
One individual convicted in 2018 faced charges including attempted rape, unlawful use of a weapon, domestic violence assault and strangulation, and was sentenced to more than 13 years in prison. Another was convicted of attempted murder with a firearm and sentenced to 90 months in prison. In a separate case, an individual convicted in 2020 of rape, kidnapping, extortion and multiple assault charges was sentenced to nearly 195 months in prison.
Several individuals listed in the petition were convicted of crimes involving children, including using minors in sexually explicit conduct and encouraging child sexual abuse. Others had multiple convictions over time, including repeated failures to comply with sex offender registration requirements.
In one of the most severe cases cited, an individual was originally sentenced to more than 1,000 months in prison for multiple sodomy and sexual abuse convictions before a 2024 amendment reduced the convictions to attempted offenses. Another individual received a 287-month sentence for rape, unlawful sexual penetration and related charges, along with 20 years of post-prison supervision.
The petition also includes individuals convicted of domestic violence-related offenses such as strangulation, coercion and assault, as well as those with histories of drug possession and burglary in addition to sex crimes.
Dispute over detainers and releases
Federal prosecutors argue that, despite immigration detainers filed in these cases, Oregon officials released the individuals into communities after they completed their sentences rather than transferring them to federal immigration authorities.
The issue reflects a broader and longstanding divide between federal immigration enforcement efforts and Oregon’s state and local policies. Oregon has laws limiting the extent to which local law enforcement agencies can assist in federal immigration enforcement. However, courts have affirmed that sharing certain information with federal authorities is allowed under state law.
Prosecutors contend the requested records — including current supervision status and location information — are critical to locating individuals they describe as posing ongoing public safety risks.
Petition pending; response unclear
The current petition remains pending before the court. It is not yet clear whether the counties named in the filing will contest the request.
State and county officials have not publicly responded to the latest petition as of Wednesday.
If granted, the order would require the counties to provide information that could allow federal authorities to track and potentially take custody of the individuals identified in the filing.
The case represents the latest development in ongoing legal and policy tensions over immigration enforcement, public safety, and the role of local jurisdictions in cooperating with federal authorities in Oregon.
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