Gov. Kotek orders Oregon DMV to halt undercover plates for ICE; concerns over legality

BEND, Ore (KTVZ) - Gov. Tina Kotek directed the Oregon Driver and Motor Vehicles Service (DMV) to stop issuing undercover license plates to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) today. The directive, issued from Salem, Ore., cites repeated violations of state and federal law by ICE agents and aims to protect community trust and public safety.

This action follows Gov. Kotek's statement that ICE agents have “repeatedly engaged in illegitimate activities, causing unwarranted chaos, sowing fear and damaging the relationship between law enforcement and our communities.” She stated that “Oregon will follow state law and ensure we do not aid these unlawful immigration enforcement efforts.”

Oregon's sanctuary law, established decades ago with bipartisan support, prohibits state and local law enforcement or public agencies from direct or indirect participation in immigration enforcement without a judicial warrant. This law is designed to ensure community members can report crimes without fear of immigration consequences.

The Governor's directive comes amid reports of masked and unidentified ICE agents operating in unmarked vehicles, who are described as having terrorized communities in Oregon and across the nation, leading to chaos, violence and even death.

Under ORS 805.060, the Oregon DMV issues undercover plates to eligible state, local and federal agencies. Currently, 45 federal agencies participate in this program, with approximately 1,260 undercover plates in circulation.

The Oregon DMV previously paused the issuance of new undercover plates to all federal agencies on April 15, 2026, to conduct a review of compliance with state law.

Following this review and Gov. Kotek’s direction, the DMV will continue to withhold new undercover plates from ICE. It will resume issuing plates to federal agencies that do not primarily conduct immigration enforcement and are not violating Oregon law. Regular undercover plate access for state and local law enforcement will be maintained and remains unaffected by this action.

Oregon DMV Administrator, Amy Joyce, emphasized the financial and legal implications of state involvement in federal immigration enforcement. “We cannot expend state resources to assist in federal immigration enforcement,” Joyce said. She added that “the prospect of litigation in this area is real” and that the DMV needs “to follow state law and protect taxpayers from legal risk.”

Joyce confirmed that “where there is not risk of breaking state law, Ore. DMV will continue to partner with federal law enforcement agencies like the FBI, DEA and U.S. Marshals Service.” Federal government vehicles typically use plates that identify them as part of the federal government's vehicle fleet. The use of non-undercover license plates will not increase the risk of “doxing,” as individual agents are not tied to agency vehicle registrations.

The Oregon DMV will continue to withhold new undercover plates from ICE. The department will resume issuing plates to other federal agencies that do not primarily conduct immigration enforcement and are not violating Oregon law. Regular undercover plate access for state and local law enforcement will be maintained and the DMV will continue its partnerships with federal law enforcement agencies, including the FBI, DEA and U.S. Marshals Service.