From the team at Rogue Valley Migra Watch:

[Medford, OR] — Large-scale law enforcement raids were confirmed at multiple farms across Southern Oregon on Wednesday, September 23 and Thursday, September 24. Through eyewitness accounts, photos, and communication with impacted families, Rogue Valley Migra Watch has confirmed at least 21 people have been detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) at these raids.

On Thursday, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Josephine Marijuana Enforcement Team (JMET), Josephine County Sheriff, Oregon State Police (OSP), and ICE were observed raiding a farm on White School House Rd in Cave Junction. Eyewitnesses and photos confirmed multiple ICE detention vehicles on site, including the Nissan Pathfinder (CWX8294) and a passenger van (D89559E), owned by GEO Group, the operators of the Northwest Detention Center. Rogue Valley Migra Watch has confirmed at least 8 people detained by ICE at this raid, but believe more may have been taken.

On Wednesday, state, local and Federal law enforcement also conducted raids on farms in Ruch and West Medford on Wednesday, September 23. Agencies involved include DEA, Customs and Border Patrol, Medford Police and the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office. Rogue Valley Migra Watch confirmed 13 people were detained by ICE, and eyewitnesses documented the Geo Group passenger van being loaded with detainees at the Medford ICE office later that day.

The majority of ICE detainees are believed to be agricultural workers employed at local cannabis farms. Similar events took place on July 30, 2025, when 17 farmworkers were detained by ICE at raids that included local and state law enforcement. This week’s raids as well as the July 30, 2025 constitute the largest documented ICE raids in Southern Oregon and represent a significant increase in ICE activity across the state of Oregon.

Local immigration advocates have raised significant concerns about local and state law enforcement’s participation in the ICE raids. “Oregon’s sanctuary law prohibits state and local law enforcement from assisting federal immigration operations,” said Rogue Valley Migra Watch. “It’s plain and simple: local law enforcement should have no involvement in these large-scale ICE raids meant to rip families apart and stoke fear in our communities.”

“We call on community leaders around the state to investigate the role local law enforcement is playing in these ICE raids, and to put a stop to this collaboration. It is not acceptable for Oregon law enforcement to claim ignorance about ICE’s activities with actively assisting the federal government in these large-scale operations.”

People at risk of ICE targeting can call 541-840-9669 to enroll with free legal support through the Equity Corps of Oregon (ECO) for income-qualifying families and make a family preparedness plan with free bilingual notaries by emailing admin@coalicionfortaleza.org. If you believe you see ICE or have a loved one who may have been taken by ICE, please message Rogue Valley Migra Watch on Facebook or Instagram and call PIRC at 888-622-1510.

Rogue Valley Migra Watch is a network of community members keeping on eye on their neighborhoods to watch for ICE in Jackson and Josephine Counties. We were founded in January 2025 as response to latinx leaders in the Rogue Valley wanting more information about local ICE activity. You can follow Rogue Valley Migra Watch on Instagram and Facebook, where updates about ICE activity is posted and community tips about potential ICE activity can be confirmed by trained volunteers.State Representatives

Take Action: Tell Your Reps to Investigate 

You may be wondering: aren’t local agencies prohibited from partnering with ICE under Oregon’s sanctuary law? Many of us are asking the same. According to the Rogue Valley Times, a spokesperson from the sheriff’s office says they were not made aware of any planned detentions by ICE prior to the planned large-scale operation this week. But they also note this is part of a multi-year investigation, and similar cross-agency raids happened last year, in which local law enforcement were also on the scene during ICE detentions. Whatever else is said, this certainly suggests to us that they could have asked and verified in advance whether or not ICE would once again be making detentions during these operations.

Are local law enforcement engaged in due diligence to make sure they stay in compliance with Oregon’s sanctuary laws? How deep does the collaboration go? The public deserves to know, and to have evidence beyond quotes from spokespersons. Call your local representatives and tell them to investigate the role of local law enforcement in multi-agency actions in Oregon that lead to ICE detentions. 

The Governor’s Office:

• Gov. Tina Kotek (D) – https://www.oregon.gov/gov/pages/contact-us.aspx
  Phone: 503-378-4582

State Representatives:

• Rep. Pam Marsh (D – District 5: Southern Jackson County, Ashland, Talent, Phoenix)
  Capitol Phone: 503-986-1405, Email: Rep.PamMarsh@oregonlegislature.gov
• Rep. Kim Wallan (R – District 6: Medford)
  Capitol Phone: 503-986-1406, Email: Rep.KimWallan@oregonlegislature.gov
• Rep. Emily McIntire (R – District 56: Eagle Point, White City, parts of Jackson County)
  Capitol Phone: 503-986-1456, Email: Rep.EmilyMcIntire@oregonlegislature.gov
• Rep. E. Werner Reschke (R – District 55: Klamath Falls and the Crater Lake area)
  Capitol Phone: 503-986-1455, Email: Rep.EWernerReschke@oregonlegislature.gov

State Senators:

• Sen. Noah Robinson (R – District 2)
  Salem Phone: 503-986-1702, Email: Sen.NoahRobinson@oregonlegislature.gov
• Sen. Jeff Golden (D – District 3: Jackson County)
  Salem Phone: 503-986-1703, Email: Sen.JeffGolden@oregonlegislature.gov
• Sen. Diane Linthicum (R – District 28: Klamath/Lake/Jackson areas)Salem Phone: 503-986-1728, Email: sen.dianelinthicum@oregonlegislature.gov

Federal Representatives

Congressman Cliff Bentz (R – 2nd Congressional District, covering all of Southern and Eastern Oregon)
Medford District Office: (541) 776-4646, Washington, D.C. Office: (202) 225-6730

U.S. Senators for Oregon:

• Ron Wyden: (D) Medford office: (541) 858-5122, D.C. office:( 202) 224-5244 
• Jeff Merkley: (D) Medford office: (541) 608-9102, D.C. office: (202) 224-3753 

Medford Police onsite at the raids that led to 21 detentions this week.