Sheriff Curtis Landers of Oregon’s Lincoln County has expressed growing concern over a letter circulating in his rural, coastal community that encourages residents to write down the license plate numbers of vehicles suspected to belong to undocumented immigrants. In response to the increasingly troubling nature of the letters, Landers has contacted the FBI and issued a statement condemning the divisive and harmful content of the message.

The letters, which have appeared across the county, suggest that individuals keep a watchful eye while parked in places like church lots or school pickup lines, taking note of vehicles they believe may belong to undocumented immigrants. The Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office has emphasized its commitment to upholding Oregon’s sanctuary law, which limits local law enforcement from inquiring about or sharing individuals’ immigration status with federal authorities.

“We strongly advise against engaging in activities such as those outlined in this letter, including collecting or sharing information about individuals based on their demographic or perceived immigration status,” the sheriff’s office said in a news release. They urged the community to exercise compassion in the face of such messages.

Both Sheriff Landers and the mayor of a small town in Lincoln County received copies of the letter, prompting further concern. The sheriff’s office did not provide details on the letter’s distribution or the number of copies circulating but continues to work with federal authorities on the issue.

Oregon, which has been a sanctuary state since 1987, strictly prohibits local and state law enforcement from participating in federal immigration enforcement without a judicial warrant, strengthening its protections for immigrants over the years. This stance is now in sharp contrast to actions in several Republican-led states, where local law enforcement is being empowered to enforce federal immigration laws.