Immigration

Congresswoman Maxine Dexter is committed to protecting our neighbors from unlawful and inhumane immigration policies. Dexter supports defunding and dismantling ICE. She believes our immigration system must be centered on humanity, due process, and dignity—not chaos and cruelty. 

Since taking office, Dexter has helped secure the release of 14 Oregonians who were wrongfully detained by immigration agents. That includes leading the effort in 2025 to free Oregon mother and small business owner Jackie Merlos, who was detained with her four U.S. citizen children at the U.S.-Canadian border and held for weeks without access to legal counsel. In 2026, Dexter traveled to Dilley, Texas, to advocate for the release of the Crespo-Gonzalez family from the nation’s largest child and family detention facility. The family was detained after taking their sick second grader to an urgent care clinic in Portland, despite having an active asylum case. Dexter successfully escorted the family out of detention and back home to Oregon.  

In Congress, Dexter was one of the first lawmakers to support articles of impeachment against Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem for her unlawful and inhumane mass deportation agenda. Additionally, Dexter has introduced legislation to bring accountability and transparency to immigration enforcement, including the CLEAR ID Act, which requires ICE agents to identify themselves, and the Restoring Access to Detainees Act, which ensures detained individuals can contact loved ones and speak with legal counsel.