Lincoln County deputies respond to 'harmful' letter targeting undocumented people

PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) – A letter circulating through Lincoln County has encouraged residents to track and report information about possibly undocumented people in the community, prompting a response from the county sheriff's office.

The letter, titled "The Brown Round-Up Part 1," said Jan. 21, 2025 will mark the beginning of the "largest round-up of brown illegals in our history." It encouraged readers to write down license plates of people who may be undocumented for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, presumably after President-elect Donald Trump enters office.

It is not clear where the letter came from or who was behind its circulation. However, deputies said the letter was “harmful, divisive, and inconsistent with the values we uphold as public servants and community members” as it was meant to target people of color.

“Targeting individuals in this manner erodes trust and undermines the sense of safety and inclusion that we strive to maintain in Lincoln County,” officials said.

The Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office also noted that Oregon law does not allow the inquiry of collection of a person’s immigration or citizenship status, explaining that is why deputies do not document or share that kind of information with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

“One of the things we tell each person when they join our team is to ‘do the right thing,’” officials said. “We are encouraging our community members to do the right thing and use compassion as we encounter these types of messages.”

A photo of the full letter sent to the Lincoln County Sheriff's Office can be found below: