Oregon Governor Tina Kotek is making headlines again, this time over her comments about federal immigration enforcement. In a recent video posted on Instagram, Kotek said her state would investigate and possibly prosecute federal officers — including agents from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) — if they break Oregon laws while enforcing U.S. immigration policy.
In her message, Kotek said that the actions of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) have been “violent” and accused the agency of “stoking fear in the name of immigration enforcement.” She claimed that federal officers were going after Oregonians and using tactics that put people in danger.
“I believe as you do, in the rule of law and keeping our community safe,” Kotek said in the video. “We also believe in being a welcoming place, where our immigrant and refugee community help our state thrive.”
She went on to say that “excessive force” and “reckless tactics” being used during immigration enforcement actions do not reflect what public safety should look like. She did not give specific examples of these actions in the video, but stated that the state is monitoring ICE activity closely and will hold agents accountable if they break any state laws.
“Oregon is monitoring all ICE actions closely,” Kotek said. “We will investigate misconduct, and if a federal officer breaks Oregon law, they will be held accountable — just like anyone else. I will not tolerate reckless, or unconstitutional behavior in our state.”
Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek: ‘We’ll investigate and prosecute any federal agent who enforces immigration law here.’
Translation: A state governor thinks she can handcuff ICE.
Someone send her a copy of the Supremacy Clause because she’s about to learn the hard way. pic.twitter.com/9wQGrDVlkY
— Kim “Katie” USA (@KimKatieUSA) November 28, 2025
This is not the first time Kotek has criticized federal officers. In an October 2024 interview with CBS News, she accused federal agents of allegedly escalating situations with protesters in Portland. At the time, she said the protests should be handled by local police, not federal agencies.
“[T]his set of demonstrations that are happening are managed by local law enforcement, as they should be,” Kotek said. “People have the right to lawfully protest, but if they cross the line, they are being held accountable. If criminal activity occurs, they are being held accountable. This is what free speech looks like, and I believe the federal government can continue to do the work right here.”
It’s unclear what kind of legal action Oregon might take if a federal immigration agent is accused of misconduct. Typically, federal agents are protected under federal law when performing their official duties. Legal experts say the question of whether a state can prosecute a federal officer for doing their job is complex and may lead to a court battle.
BREAKING: Trump ally and legal scholar Mike Davis sends STERN WARNING to Oregon Governor Tina Kotek after she threatened to go after ICE and federal agents!
“You will go to prison for assault, harboring, obstruction, and conspiracy”
Let’s GO! Governor Kotek, you DO NOT SPEAK… pic.twitter.com/SNSYxQhsmG
— David Medina
BREAKING: Trump ally and legal scholar Mike Davis sends STERN WARNING to Oregon Governor Tina Kotek after she threatened to go after ICE and federal agents!
(@davidmedinapdx) This situation comes as immigration continues to be a hot-button issue nationwide. President Donald Trump and Vice President J.D. Vance have made border security and enforcement a top priority in their second term, while many blue states — including Oregon — continue to push back on federal immigration policies.
The White House has not released a statement regarding Kotek’s comments, but the divide between state and federal authorities on immigration enforcement appears to be growing. Whether that leads to legal challenges or more political standoffs remains to be seen.
