Sheriff’s Board Affirms Oregon Sanctuary Law Compliance at NORCOR Facility

The Dalles, OR. — On December 18, 2025, the NORCOR Sheriff’s Advisory Board convened to review custody protocols for individuals lodged at the NORCOR Adult Facility by the U.S. Marshals Service, with a specific focus on compliance with Oregon sanctuary statutes.

The review was initiated to ensure that no individuals are being held solely on the basis of federal immigration administrative violations, which are prohibited under Oregon law. At the direction of the Advisory Board, NORCOR command staff conducted a comprehensive internal audit of all current U.S. Marshals Service custodial cases.

According to the Board, the audit confirmed that NORCOR is fully compliant with Oregon law and identified no violations of state sanctuary requirements.

During the review, command staff noted that three individuals were being held on federal criminal charges, including Illegal Re-Entry and dangerous drug offenses. While these individuals met all legal requirements for custody under Oregon law, the Advisory Board elected to take additional precautionary steps to eliminate any potential for future procedural ambiguity.

As a result, NORCOR has coordinated with the U.S. Marshals Service to transfer the three individuals to another facility. The Marshals Service has also been formally advised that individuals facing Illegal Re-Entry charges should not be transported to NORCOR going forward.

“Our commitment has always been, and remains, to operate this facility with total transparency and in strict adherence to Oregon law,” the Board said in a statement.

The NORCOR Sheriff’s Advisory Board is composed of Hood River County Sheriff Matt English, Wasco County Sheriff Lane Magill, Sherman County Sheriff James Burgett, and Gilliam County Sheriff Gary Bettencourt. The four sheriffs maintain full operational authority over the NORCOR Adult Facility and oversee staff to ensure the facility’s continued legal compliance and operational integrity.