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Oregon Dems block effort to alert ICE before illegal immigrant murderers are released

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Oregon Dems block effort to alert ICE before illegal immigrant murderers are released

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Oregon Senate Democrats unanimously voted to kill an effort to require that federal authorities be notified when an illegal immigrant convicted of a violent felony is about to be released from prison, leading the chamber’s top Republican to say the majority is choosing ideology over common sense.

In Oregon’s legislature, the minority caucus is permitted to file an alternative “minority report” to a majority party-led bill, which would then replace the majority’s legislation before it heads to the governor as a “last-ditch” effort to amend or stop a proposal, according to a source familiar with Salem’s processes.

This particular minority report would have directed state officials to notify federal authorities when an illegal immigrant convicted of a violent felony, such as murder, was about to be released. That would give ICE an opportunity to transfer the person to its custody without the kind of expansive resource deployment seen in some uncooperative blue cities.

The Oregon State Senate voted down the minority report for Senate Bill 1594, 18-12, along party lines, with one lawmaker excused, as Republicans warned of the tally’s public safety consequences.

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ICE agents deploy measures in Portland, Ore., in February 2026. (Sean Bascom/Getty Images)

The original and active SB 1594 would require Oregon’s Justice Department to consult with the state Office of Immigration and Refugee Advancement on updated “model policies” at immigration facilities.

State Sen. Mark Meek, D-Oregon City, who is considered a moderate, defended his vote on the floor in Salem by saying that ICE should instead “sit outside” state prisons because recapturing subjects would be like “fishing in a pond; in a barrel.”

“If the federal government wants to be serious about taking care of that business, then that’s the place you should be,” Meek said. 

Critics of that view said it would run counter to the left’s tendency to protest broad ICE operations in certain localities.

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Oregon’s corrections department previously tracked the immigration status of those convicted of felonies but has not run a check since 2022, after a 2021 bill restricted the tracking of whether an inmate has an ICE detainer, according to a source familiar with the matter.

“The vote runs contrary to the clear will of Oregonians and Americans across party lines, who overwhelmingly support the removal of illegal immigrants convicted of violent or serious crimes across multiple reputable polls,” the minority caucus said in a statement on the minority report’s failure.

State Senate Minority Leader Bruce Starr, R-Dundee, called the bill “as common sense as common sense gets.”

“Do we want violent felons who have no legal right to be present in Oregon to remain here, or should there at least be an opportunity for federal authorities to take custody?”

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“The effect of voting ‘no’ today is to affirm that a person who is here illegally and commits a felony in Oregon should remain here as the felon is released from prison,” added state Sen. Mike McLane, R-Powell Butte.

Fox News Digital reached out to Oregon Senate President Robert Wagner, D-Lake Oswego, and Senate Majority Leader Kayse Jama, D-East Portland, for comment.

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Anti-ICE law set to take effect in Maine as governor faces increased criticism for allowing it amid Senate run

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Colorado

Grand jury indicts over half the officers in a rural Colorado county

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Grand jury indicts over half the officers in a rural Colorado county


DENVER — Five of the seven law enforcement officers in a rural Colorado county, including the sheriff, have been indicted in an investigation into allegations of misconduct, prosecutors said Friday.

A grand jury indicted Costilla County Sheriff Danny Sanchez and former Deputy Keith Schultz on charges of allegedly mishandling human remains discovered in October 2024, according to court documents. A man who found the remains and reported them to the sheriff’s office said Sanchez and Schultz took only the skull and left the other remains behind, including teeth, court documents state.

Two months passed before Schultz wrote a report, saying he left bones in a bag on his desk and went on another call, the documents state. A coroner’s official said he received the skull in an unlabeled paper bag from the sheriff’s office, the documents state.

Separately, Undersheriff Cruz Soto, Sgt. Caleb Sanchez — the sheriff’s son — and Deputy Roland Riley are charged in connection with the use of a Taser against a man who was suffering a mental health crisis in February and tried to leave when they insisted he go to the hospital, according to the documents. The man said he was “roughed up” by deputies and was left with broken ribs, according to the indictments.

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Soto was charged with failing to intervene and third-degree assault, according to court documents. Caleb Sanchez and Riley were charged with second- and third-degree assault.

In announcing the indictments, 12th District Attorney Anne Kelly said she’s committed to investigating and prosecuting crimes no matter the offender.

“I cannot and will not ignore violations of the trust that a community should have in their police. No citizen of the San Luis Valley should have any doubts about the integrity of their police force,” Kelly said at a news conference Friday evening.

A person who answered the phone Friday at the sheriff’s office said it had no immediate comment but planned to post a statement online. Phone numbers listed for Danny Sanchez, Soto and Riley did not work. Caleb Sanchez did not have a listed number. An unidentified person who answered a number for Schultz referred The Associated Press to an attorney, Peter Comar. The AP left a message Friday for Comar seeking comment.

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Hawaii

Hawaii police investigate alleged gun threat at Kealakehe Intermediate

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Hawaii police investigate alleged gun threat at Kealakehe Intermediate


KONA (HawaiiNewsNow) – The Hawaii Police Department is investigating a terror threat at Kealakehe Intermediate School after a student reportedly intended to bring a gun to campus on Friday.

Police said they interviewed several students and, during the investigation, determined the student in question was absent and not on campus.

Authorities said they have not located anyone who directly heard the alleged threat, and the report has not been substantiated.

Police said the school remained open and its daily operations were not impacted.

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Anyone with information is asked to contact officer John Antonio at (808) 935-3311 or by email at John.Antonio@hawaiipolice.gov.

Anonymous tips can be sent to Crime Stoppers by calling (808) 961-8300. All Crime Stoppers information is kept confidential.



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Idaho

Idaho Senate introduces new bill to give local municipalities authority to control rat populations

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Idaho Senate introduces new bill to give local municipalities authority to control rat populations


BOISE, Idaho — A new bill in the Idaho Senate aims to let local municipalities take action to control rat populations. This, after a previous bill to combat rat infestations across Idaho, died in the House.

Rats have been spreading throughout the Treasure Valley in recent years, but previous attempts at legislation to deal with the problem have failed.

WATCH: Senior Reporter Roland Beres provides an update on the new rat bill

New bill would allow local governments to combat rats

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Residents in Eagle and Boise have been tracking an alarming rise in rat populations recently.

Rep. John Gannon (D – District 17) introduced new legislation today that would essentially permit local governments to act in order to control rat populations if they want to, without creating a mandate.

Gannon said some cities complained that they did not have the authority to do the job themselves.

The bill was introduced with a dose of humor.

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“I’m going to support this. It’s very late in the session, but I think this might just squeak through,” said Sen. Ben Adams (R – District 12). “Well. Unless it encounters a trap along the way.”

ALSO READ | ‘I’ve never seen something that big’: Boise neighbors finding rats in their backyards

This story was initially reported by a journalist and has been, in part, converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.

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