Clatsop County sheriff warns of unmarked ICE operations, urges documentation and caution

Sheriff Matt Phillips briefed the Clatsop County Board of Commissioners on recent concerns about U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement procedures in the Northwest, saying local sheriffs have seen agents operating in unmarked vehicles and sometimes without clear federal identification. "There’s been lots of instances where, you know, these actions have resulted in 911 calls," Phillips said, describing episodes in which agents approached vehicles, removed keys and identification, or conducted takedowns that surprised bystanders.

Phillips said county sheriffs met with ICE field leadership in Seattle to raise those concerns but found the conversation "unproductive," and that ICE officials did not acknowledge the local complaints about tactics. "They were maybe indifferent to what our concerns were," he said.

Commissioners said the reported behavior undermines public trust and can endanger both residents and local officers. Commissioner Thompson asked what the board could do, and Phillips advised documenting incidents and forwarding them to federal partners for investigation. "Potentially the best thing we could do is be good observers and document and report things," he said.

Board members discussed possible policy or advocacy responses. One commissioner suggested pursuing legislation or a lobbying effort to require federal agents to wear identifiable markings during arrests. Phillips cautioned that some operational circumstances legitimately require plainclothes or unmarked approaches, and that well‑intentioned local restrictions can have unintended consequences. "Sometimes we have these situations where we create a lot that has unintended consequences," he said.

Phillips also offered guidance for residents who watch or encounter enforcement actions: keep distance and prioritize personal safety. "Distance is your friend in most of these situations," he said, adding that it is legal to record events in public settings but that people should evaluate safety before intervening.

The board did not take formal action but directed staff to discuss options for raising the county’s concerns with state and federal partners and to consider advocacy steps that avoid exposing local personnel to legal risk.