The 2025 Oregon legislative session started on January 21, 2025, just one day after President Trump’s second inauguration. Within the first week of his second presidency, Trump unleashed a chaotic horde of executive orders that attacked: immigrants and refugees, including the most basic of constitutional rights like birthright citizenship; pregnant and transgender people; environmental and climate justice; diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives; and much more.
From day one, Trump also issued executive orders related to the military and immigration. This foreshadowed his aggressive deployment of the National Guard and Marines on Los Angeles in June – the apparent purpose being to suppress Angelenos protesting against cruel, unjust, and chaotic ICE raids in their communities.
During these dangerous and tumultuous times for our state and country, the ACLU of Oregon policy team was ready to lead and act. We implemented the Firewall for Freedom strategy that we had started developing with ACLU National in spring 2024.
We were guided by our core values, not fear. Our legislative agenda was rooted in a vision of our state where all Oregonians – including our most vulnerable loved ones and neighbors – are afforded the basic rights to freedom, liberty, justice, and equality.
We fought hard for our state, and we had many victories:
- We stopped an expansion of Oregon’s domestic terrorism bill and also stopped a warrantless drone surveillance bill.
- We stopped disgraceful attacks on transgender Oregonians.
- We successfully continued state support of legal representation for immigrants and refugees in deportation proceedings, as well as for refugee resettlement programs.
- Working in solidarity with young people, educators, and librarians, we protected students’ freedom to read, learn, and see themselves and their peers in the books available in their school libraries.
These were not just policy wins; they were acts of community love and resistance. We acted in solidarity with directly-impacted individuals, coalition partners, legislative champions, and thousands of everyday Oregonians.
Each and every person who testified, organized, and raised your voice – Thank you. YOU are the firewall for freedom.
Because of you, Oregon continues to be a beacon of hope during these dark times. The threats are real. But so is our power. Truly, this is what democracy looks like, how we protect freedom, and how we make Oregon home for all.
With much gratitude,
Jessica Maravilla
Policy Director, ACLU of Oregon
