TriMet Does Not Work with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)

TriMet does not work with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) or inquire about anyone’s immigration status. Oregon law prohibits it. The law also prohibits local law enforcement, including Transit Police officers, from working with ICE. It prevents police officers from detaining a person whose only offense is being in the country without proper documentation. TriMet staff conducting fare inspections and other code enforcement activities do not ask about a person’s immigration status.

Occasionally, Transit Police officers will ask riders for a valid form of identification. If riders do not have a state driver’s license or other ID, an officer may ask if the customer has a passport. This request is made only to determine the customer’s legal name and not part of any immigration enforcement activity.

Per our Privacy Policy, TriMet does not share personal information with others, with the limited exceptions of service providers, our transit partners C-TRAN and Portland Streetcar, and recipients who are entitled to the information for legal or safety reasons.

TriMet will not provide personal information to ICE or any similar agency for immigration enforcement purposes unless compelled by law.

When people apply for our Honored Citizen reduced fare, a government-issued photo ID is required, but it doesn’t need to be a passport, nor specify immigration status.

When conducting surveys, TriMet shreds any paper records and removes any personally identifiable information, ensuring that only aggregated data is used. TriMet may collect demographic data but does not inquire about individuals' immigration status.

As a sanctuary state, Oregon has policies in place that limit cooperation or involvement with federal immigration enforcement activities. Multnomah, Washington and Clackamas counties, which make up the TriMet service district, adopted additional protections to shield immigrants from ICE.

Our transit system belongs to all of us and everyone is welcome. Riders who believe they have experienced, witnessed or heard about activity by ICE on TriMet property are encouraged to report it immediately. In the event of an emergency, call 9-1-1. Otherwise, contact TriMet Rider Support by phone or text at 503-238-RIDE (7433), on Twitter @trimethelp or through the Customer Service page at trimet.org. Note the line, location, time and vehicle number involved and when possible and safe, take a photo or get video, so that the claim can be thoroughly investigated. With all the rumors that have been spread in the past, no one has ever captured a photo or video.