A law authored by Rep. Farrah Chaichi, D-Beaverton, requiring all law enforcement officers in Oregon to display identification and banning face coverings is being openly defied by federal authorities.
That defiance took on new urgency after armed men posing as ICE agents pulled a driver from their car near Woodburn on July 17 and assaulted them.
The incident on Highway 211, east of a city where more than 34% of residents were born outside the U.S. and 60% identifying as Hispanic, underscores the stakes for Beaverton's immigrant communities.
Washington County logged 87 federal immigration enforcement requests over the past year, the most of any Oregon county, as we reported July 18.
What happened on July 17
Between approximately 3:30 p.m. and 5 p.m. on July 17, a driver on Highway 211 near milepost 5 was pulled over by a vehicle displaying roof-mounted red and blue lights, according to Oregon State Police. The driver pulled into a gravel turnout believing it was a legitimate traffic stop.
Two men exited the vehicle. One carried a rifle. They identified themselves as ICE agents, forcibly removed the driver from their car, searched them, and placed them in the back seat of the suspects' SUV.
A third person inside the vehicle assaulted the victim during approximately 15 to 20 minutes of detention, according to the Hillsboro News Times. The suspects then released the victim, who drove to a hospital for treatment.
The suspects wore boots, baseball caps, green long-sleeved shirts, and face coverings, with tactical vests displaying "POLICE" in white letters and badges marked "Police." Their vehicle was a newer-model blue or gray SUV with no visible license plates.
Oregon State Police confirmed with federal agencies that the incident was not an official operation. The FBI, OSP, and the Department of Homeland Security are all investigating. The case number is SP26-237961.
Chaichi's law and federal defiance
Oregon's HB 4138, which took effect in 2026, requires all law enforcement officers operating in Oregon to display identification and bans face coverings except in specific circumstances. The law allows Oregonians to file civil suits against agencies that fail to comply.
Chaichi has publicly acknowledged it remains an open question whether the law can be enforced against federal agents given the U.S. Constitution's supremacy clause.
A panel of the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals in April halted a similar California law, a ruling legal experts say could undermine Oregon's statute.
A U.S. Department of Homeland Security spokesperson told the Oregon Capital Chronicle in April that the federal government would not comply, saying the supremacy clause prevents state politicians from controlling federal law enforcement.
Despite suing multiple other states over similar laws, the Trump administration has not challenged Oregon's HB 4138 in court as of Tuesday, July 28.
What residents should know
Oregon State Police issued guidance on July 25 advising residents who are unsure about an unmarked vehicle stop to turn on emergency flashers, lock doors, look for a uniform, and ask for department ID and badge. The agency noted that unmarked law enforcement vehicles will not have lights attached to the roof.
Anyone with information about the July 17 incident can contact Oregon State Police dispatch at 800-442-0776 or *677 from a mobile phone, referencing case number SP26-237961.
