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Civil Rights

July 18, 2018

Immigration detainees at a federal facility in Sheridan say harsh, prison-like conditions have left them feeling depressed and suicidal, according to court documents filed this week.

Oregon's federal public defender filed habeas corpus petitions Wednesday on behalf of five unnamed men being held by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement in Sheridan. They are among the more than 120 detainees sent to the Yamhill County facility on May 31 to await criminal prosecution under the Trump administration's "zero-tolerance" immigration policy.

Issues:Civil Rights

July 18, 2018

The federal agency that controls the detention center where immigrant children are being held in Portland again denied requests July 17 from the state's five Democratic congress members to visit the facility.

Issues:Civil Rights

July 18, 2018

On July 3, the U.S. Department of Education announced it would rescind legal guidelines for universities that use race as a factor in their student admissions process, and instead will begin promoting race-neutral admission policies.


July 18, 2018

The federal agency that controls the detention center where immigrant children are being held in Portland again denied requests July 17 from the state's five Democratic congress members to visit the facility.

Issues:Civil Rights

July 16, 2018

The imprisonment of 123 asylum seekers at the federal prison in Sheridan has sparked the creation of a new local activist group called ICE Out of Sheridan.

Members will meet at 7 p.m. Wednesday, July 18, at McMinnville Cooperative Ministries, 544 N.E. Second St., to discuss their plans to oppose what they consider to be excesses by Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents.

Issues:Civil Rights

July 12, 2018
Congresswoman Bonamici (OR-01) issued the following statement after the Trump administration repealed guidance on diversity in education that was put in place by the Obama administration.
"As we celebrated Independence Day last week, the Trump Administration quietly continued its efforts to roll back civil rights protections by ending Obama-era guidance to improve diversity on college campuses. This administration's deliberate attempt to undermine diversity is inconsistent with our American values. The Supreme Court's decision in Fisher v.

July 12, 2018
“As we celebrated Independence Day last week, the Trump Administration quietly continued its efforts to roll back civil rights protections by ending Obama-era guidance to improve diversity on college campuses. This administration’s deliberate attempt to undermine diversity is inconsistent with our American values. The Supreme Court’s decision in Fisher v. University of Texas affirmed the importance of a diverse student body."

July 11, 2018
“If the problem is that these agencies are understaffed, then I’ll come over to the Department of Health and Human Services and volunteer to help."
Issues:Civil Rights

July 11, 2018

A day after the Trump administration missed its court-appointed deadline for the reunification of just over 100 young immigrant children with their parents, an Oregon congresswoman offered her services to help the relevant federal agency.

Issues:Civil Rights

July 11, 2018

U.S. Rep. Suzanne Bonamici, D-Oregon, during a speech on the House floor Wednesday offered to volunteer her own time to help reunite separated families.

The deadline to bring the families together was Tuesday. However, fewer than half have been reunited.

Bonamici demanded immediate action.

Issues:Civil Rights