U.S. Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-Deremer calls for ‘crackdown’ in Oregon
(Update: Adding video)
By KGW's Thomas Schultz
PORTLAND, Ore. — U.S. Labor Secretary and former Oregon congresswoman Lori Chavez-DeRemer appeared to encourage the Trump administration to “crack down” on Portland Tuesday.
The comment was made during a Cabinet meeting at the White House.
“Thank you to what you're doing with your agents at ICE,” Chavez-DeRemer told Trump.“
And thank you for your prosecution,” she added, turning to U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi. “I hope you'll come to Portland, Oregon, and crack down.”
Chavez-DeRemer did not specify what kind of crackdown she was seeking, though her comments appeared to reference migrants.
U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden took to social media to slam Chavez-DeRemer's comments.
"It’s bad enough to flatter the boss as a requirement for employment. But it’s even worse to sell out your fellow Oregonians along the way," Wyden wrote.
The White House has threatened to expand National Guard deployments to Democratic-led cities such as Chicago, while troops already patrol the streets of Washington, D.C.
Bondi has also warned Oregon and Portland that they could lose federal funding over sanctuary policies.Though, state and city leaders have previously argued that declining to assist federal immigration enforcement does not violate federal law.
"Our officers will not be used as agents of ICE, and when we see federal abuse, we will bring it to light we will take action and take the fight to federal courts where we will win," Portland Mayor Keith Wilson previously said.
KGW reached out to Secretary Chavez-Deremer's office for more specifics about the type of "crackdown" Chavez-Deremer would like to see in Portland. We are awaiting further clarification.
