Overview
- On Monday, June 1, Gov. Tina Kotek directed the Oregon DMV to withhold new undercover license plates for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement while resuming issuance to federal agencies that do not primarily carry out immigration enforcement.
- The DMV previously paused issuing new undercover plates to all federal agencies on April 15 to review compliance with state law before deciding to treat ICE differently from other agencies.
- The U.S. Department of Justice has sued Oregon, Washington, Maine, and Massachusetts, arguing those states’ refusals are unconstitutional and that denying confidential plates undermines federal agent safety and law enforcement effectiveness.
- Oregon DMV administrator Amy Joyce said the state will not spend resources to assist federal immigration enforcement, warned of real litigation risk, and confirmed continued partnerships with non-immigration federal agencies such as the FBI, DEA, and U.S. Marshals Service.
- The dispute forces a choice between federal operational claims that covert plates protect agents and state claims that supplying those plates to ICE damages community trust and public safety, and the issue is likely to be resolved in ongoing federal court proceedings.