Tell City of Eugene not to Fence the Federal Building

A fence does NOT protect the public. A fence protects ICE and will make it:

• HARDER for immigrant community members to be safe.

• HARDER for legal observers to document ICE kidnappings and activities.

• HARDER for nonviolent protestors to watch for ICE violence.

• EASIER for ICE to hide the fact that they are kidnapping our community members.

• EASIER for ICE to be violent, and to catch nonviolent protesters by surprise.

Why It Matters

The Mayor of Eugene has:

• said that Eugene will not cooperate with ICE. If that is the case, then why would they erect a fence to protect ICE?

• said that the city stands in solidarity with immigrants and refugees. If that is the case, then why would Eugene grant a permit that helps ICE continue to violate our laws outside of public scrutiny?

• criticized ICE’s tactics. If those tactics are concerning enough to condemn, then the city should not facilitate and help hide them.

City Councilors Have:

• declared ICE’s actions a humanitarian crisis. They called this declaration the first step in protecting the immigrant community of Eugene. Why, then, is the City considering green-lighting a fence that protects ICE from oversight, putting our immigrant community in more danger of being secretly disappeared?

Our sanctuary statements & laws mean we should not be helping to build infrastructure for ICE.

Public buildings should not be hidden behind fences to reduce transparency, and limit the public’s right to observe and protest government actions.

Community members should not be excluded from public space to shield federal agents from scrutiny.

What can I do?

1. Email Mayor Knudson, Eugene City Council, and the City Manager:
   mayorcouncilandcitymanager@eugene-or.gov
   citymanager@eugene-or.gov
   
   Suggested sample message:
   Eugene should stand by its values, commitments to immigrants and refugees, and city policy. No fence keeps our immigrant community safe. A fence around the federal building increases our immigrant community’s risk by blocking legal observers’ oversight of ICE activities. Public buildings must remain public. Oregon is a sanctuary state, Lane County has a Sanctuary Statement, and the City of Eugene has said it will not assist ICE. For these reasons, I urge the City to deny any fence permit and keep public space open and safe for all.
   

2. Come to the 4/13/26 Eugene City Council Meeting:
   Monday, April 13, 2026 at 7:30 PM
   500 E. 4th Avenue
   Eugene, OR 97401
   
   and tell them: