Why It Matters
Oregon’s sanctuary protections and the legal boundaries of federal immigration enforcement inside state facilities are at the center of a developing dispute following arrests at a courthouse in Salem. The incident raises questions about access to the justice system for immigrant communities and the obligations of state and local officials under Oregon law.
Advocates and state officials warn that enforcement actions inside courthouses could deter residents from appearing for legal proceedings, accessing public services, or cooperating with the justice system — with potential consequences for courts statewide.
What Happened
Federal agents from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security arrested two individuals inside the Marion County Courthouse in downtown Salem, Oregon, on Thursday, March 26, 2026. The arrests took place on the fifth floor of the building, which houses state courtrooms, with agents carrying out the enforcement action in a hallway.
One of those arrested was identified as Daniel Lopez-Mojica, a 39-year-old Salem man. Court records show he was wanted on a federal charge filed in Portland’s U.S. District Court for allegedly re-entering the country illegally after a prior deportation.
A second individual was taken into custody based on what Marion County Sheriff’s Office officials described as an administrative warrant — a warrant issued by a federal enforcement agency that has not been reviewed or signed by a federal judge. The agency declined to identify the second person arrested or immediately release a copy of the warrant.
Witnesses present at the courthouse, including public defenders and representatives from advocacy organizations, described the second arrest as immigration-related. The Marion County Sheriff’s Office confirmed it assisted with one of the arrests but would not confirm the immigration nature of the second detention.
Latinos Unidos Siempre, an immigrant advocacy group, identified the second individual as a resident of Woodburn, Oregon, but withheld further identifying details citing safety concerns for the person and their family.
Oregon’s Sanctuary Law
The arrests appear to put federal agents in direct tension with Oregon’s sanctuary law, which generally prohibits state and local government employees — including law enforcement officers — from assisting federal immigration enforcement operations. The law specifically bars participation in the execution of administrative warrants, which lack judicial oversight.
Under Oregon statute, cooperation with federal immigration authorities is permitted only when agents present a warrant that has been signed by a federal judge. An administrative warrant, issued internally by an agency such as Immigration and Customs Enforcement or Customs and Border Protection, does not meet that legal standard.
State judicial officials have previously asked federal immigration authorities to refrain from conducting enforcement actions inside Oregon courthouses, citing concerns about the chilling effect such operations can have on court access. County and state officials said they were not aware of any prior instance of immigration agents making an arrest inside the courthouse.
When asked about the second arrest, Marion County Sheriff’s Office Sgt. Jeremy Schwab told reporters: “Somebody could read between the lines,” without explicitly confirming or denying the immigration basis of the detention.
By the Numbers
- 2 individuals were arrested inside the Marion County Courthouse on March 26, 2026
- 1 arrest was made with the assistance of the Marion County Sheriff’s Office
- 1 arrest was based on a judicially signed federal warrant related to illegal re-entry charges filed in Portland
- 1 arrest was carried out using an administrative warrant, which does not require judicial approval
- 0 responses were received from DHS, CBP, or ICE to media requests for comment as of Thursday evening
Zoom Out
Oregon is one of several states with formal sanctuary policies that limit local law enforcement cooperation with federal immigration agencies. Similar tensions between federal enforcement operations and state sanctuary laws have emerged in California, Washington, and New York, where courthouse arrests by ICE agents have previously prompted legislative responses and formal legal challenges.
The Trump administration has directed federal immigration agencies to expand enforcement operations into locations previously considered sensitive, including courthouses, schools, and places of worship — a shift from prior federal guidance that discouraged arrests in such settings. That policy change has intensified conflicts with states that have enacted their own protections for immigrant residents.
What’s Next
State and county officials are expected to review the circumstances of both arrests to determine whether Oregon’s sanctuary law was violated. Advocacy groups have indicated they intend to pursue accountability through legal and legislative channels.
Oregon judicial officials may issue formal guidance or take additional steps to reinforce courthouse protections. Federal agencies have not yet publicly commented on the operation, and further details about the second individual’s case remain undisclosed.