Oregon enacts new notification protocols for immigration enforcement on public campuses

The Oregon Capitol building on Feb. 8, 2025. Photo by Keenan Yoshizawa.

A new law has established requirements for how public education institutions must handle federal immigration enforcement on public campuses. Gov. Tina Kotek signed House Bill 4079 on March 31, weeks after the Oregon State Legislature passed the bill during its session on March 2.

Known as the “Safeguarding Students and Families Act,” the legislation mandates that public K-12 schools, community colleges and universities develop clear protocols for when federal agents enter campus grounds.

While the bill applies strictly to public institutions and will not directly alter policies at Willamette, the legislation is a response to the January 2025 revocation of federal sensitive locations guidance by the Trump administration, which previously restricted immigration enforcement actions in schools, hospitals and churches. 

The law requires public institutions to designate and train specific staff members to verify the credentials and judicial warrants of any federal immigration officers. Institutions would need to provide expedient electronic notifications to students, staff and families if immigration enforcement activity is confirmed on school property. According to the bill, these alerts must include the general location of the activity but are restricted from disclosing personally identifiable information to protect student privacy. 

Throughout the bill’s progression, advocates and student groups frequently called for the inclusion of an “immigration justice package” which would be a standardized set of “Know Your Rights” resources and legal aid information. One such group was Latinos Unidos Siempre, which organized a walkout for immigrant rights on Feb. 27. While the final version of HB 4079 focuses on procedural responses, the demand for these packets highlighted a community-wide interest in accessible legal information. 

Lesly Cordero-Lagos (’26), the president of the Pro-Immigrant Rights Student Union at Willamette, said, “Even though the bill does not directly impact [the club] or Willamette, it impacts the Salem community, and we are part of the community.” 

Cordero-Lagos said that the geographical setting of the university creates a responsibility for students to remain informed about the experiences of those in the surrounding communities. 

“The location of Willamette really matters. There are a lot of places students go to that are diverse. Students need to be aware of their privilege [since] Willamette is a predominantly white institution. Most [students] don’t have to experience what the Salem-Keizer students have to deal with.”

Although HB 4079 does not mandate changes for private institutions, the new state standards have prompted discussions regarding Willamette's own level of transparency and support. 

“Students want to see the university take a vocal stance or say if they would support students or faculty in the instance that someone in the community is detained,” said Cordero-Lagos. “The lack of acknowledgement or news about what this means for Willamette is something I think students are getting frustrated with, especially because it comes down to safety.”

In a February letter to the campus community, Executive Director of Campus Safety AJ Christensen and Vice President of Student Affairs Lisa Landreman wrote, “We understand that the potential presence of federal law enforcement on campus and in our communities can cause concern. We are monitoring developments carefully, consulting with legal counsel and institutional leaders throughout Oregon and the country, and reviewing our campus policies and protocols.” Campus Safety’s priority is protecting the “safety, privacy and rights” of the community, they wrote. They also noted that the university has limitations on its control over federal action. 

A page detailing some of the university’s current guidance as it relates to federal law enforcement on campus is here. 

The guidance says that anyone who sees federal law enforcement on campus and is concerned should contact the Campus Safety office. It also specifies which buildings on campus require a warrant to be entered by law enforcement and which don’t. In addition, the page specifies that university protocols include community notifications through the Today@Willamette if significant law enforcement will occur on campus. 

As Oregon prepares for the law’s provisions to take effect on Sept. 30, 2026, student advocates emphasized that awareness remains a primary tool for campus safety.

“Showing up and sharing the news about what is going on are important measures to take given the context that we live in today,” Cordero-Lagos said. 

While Willamette remains governed by its own private institutional policies, the regional impact of HB 4079 will be visible across neighboring Salem-Keizer schools and Chemeketa Community College starting this fall.