Civil rights enforcement action where Oregon Attorney General and three local District Attorneys issued a formal demand letter to federal agencies, citing a pattern of excessive and unlawful force by DHS officers during immigration operations that endangered residents and other law enforcement, and threatening investigations and potential prosecutions if conduct does not change.
The letter demands DHS halt unlawful actions, improve training, coordinate with local law enforcement, investigate excessive-force complaints, and fully cooperate with state investigations. It serves as formal notice that Oregon officials will monitor federal conduct, investigate potential criminal behavior, and refer cases for prosecution.
In-house legal teams should review all intergovernmental agreements, memoranda of understanding (MOUs), and federal task force agreements between federal agencies (DHS/DOJ) and state/local law enforcement entities. Focus on clauses governing standards of conduct, use of force protocols, compliance with constitutional rights (particularly the Fourth Amendment), mandatory reporting requirements for use-of-force incidents, training obligations, and oversight mechanisms. Potential changes needed include inserting explicit prohibitions against excessive or reckless force, mandating de-escalation training, establishing independent review panels for incidents, clarifying termination rights for non-compliance, and requiring real-time data sharing with local partners to ensure accountability.
Entity
U.S. Department of Homeland Security and U.S. Department of Justice
Also known as: Department of Homeland Security
Industry
OtherOfficial Press Release
https://www.doj.state.or.us/media-home/news-media-releases/ag-rayfield-and-local-district-attorneys-demand-dhs-end-unlawful-use-of-force/
11 24 25 Joint Letter to DHS DOJ
https://www.doj.state.or.us/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/11_24_25_Joint_Letter_to_DHS_DOJ.pdf
Oregon Attorney General Enforcement Page
https://www.doj.state.or.us/consumer-protection/
"The letter, sent to U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi and DHS Secretary Kristi Noem"
"details a months-long pattern of excessive force by DHS personnel — including incidents where federal officers used munitions that struck Portland Police Bureau officers and Oregon State Police officers, and tear-gas deployments that endangered residents and other law enforcement."
"The letter serves as formal notice that the Oregon Department of Justice and the three District Attorney’s Offices are actively monitoring federal conduct and will investigate any case where a federal officer appears to be acting outside the reasonable scope of their duties."
"the Supremacy Clause does not shield federal officers who exceed their lawful authority."
Attorney General Dan Rayfield and a coalition of 21 attorneys general and Pennsylvania filed lawsuits against the U.S. Department of Transportation, FMCSA, and AAMVA to block demands for a database containing personal information of 17 million commercial drivers. The federal government threatened to withhold $10 million in funding unless the data was turned over, which the coalition argues violates privacy law.
Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield co-led a coalition of 10 states in a federal lawsuit against the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) to block a rule that invalidates state laws requiring mortgage lenders to pay interest on escrow accounts. The lawsuit argues the OCC's rule oversteps federal authority, gives national banks a competitive advantage over state-chartered banks, and takes money away from homeowners.
A federal judge ruled that Nexstar Media Group violated a court order requiring it to keep TEGNA Inc. operating as an independent company while a multistate antitrust lawsuit challenging the merger proceeds. The court found that Nexstar installed its own executives on TEGNA's board, failed to disclose the appointments, and lacked candor with the court. The court ordered Nexstar to comply immediately, file status reports, respond to discovery, and turn over board and financial documents, with a special master to oversee compliance.
Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield, joined by a coalition of 23 other states, the District of Columbia, and two governors, sued the Trump administration to block a new policy by the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) that would allow federal officials to access private records of millions of TANF recipients. The coalition argues the policy illegally shares sensitive personal data, including Social Security numbers and immigration status, with other federal agencies and private organizations, violating the Administrative Procedure Act and the Spending Clause. The lawsuit seeks to declare the policy illegal and block it from taking effect.
Attorney General Dan Rayfield and 49 other state attorneys general sent a letter to the FCC urging stronger 'Know Your Customer' rules to combat illegal robocalls. The coalition requests that phone companies verify customer identities and business practices to prevent scammers from using the network. The letter is part of Phase 2 of Operation Robocall Roundup.
Attorney General Rayfield and a coalition of 49 other attorneys general sent a letter to the FCC urging it to strengthen its Know Your Customer (KYC) rules to combat illegal robocalls. The coalition recommends requiring providers to understand customers' business, applying KYC standards to all providers, and collecting additional information on high-risk customers. No monetary penalty was imposed.