Portland-Area County Launches ‘Sanctuary Fund’ Providing Taxpayer-Funded Grants To Assist Illegal Immigrants

The program was part of a $250,000 package approved by the Multnomah County commissioners

By Jessica Costescu

The Oregon county that includes the city of Portland is shelling out $75,000 in taxpayer money through a new “Sanctuary Fund” program designed to help left-wing groups that assist illegal immigrants.

The Multnomah Sanctuary Fund was launched Thursday and will award grants ranging from $2,000 to $10,000 to “community-based organizations that work with underserved culturally specific populations affected by immigration enforcement.” The money can be used for services such as “legal aid, utility/rental assistance, child care, case management, healthcare, and related needs.” It will prioritize “equitable distribution across diverse linguistic, ethnic and cultural communities.”

The grant program was included in a $250,000 package that the Multnomah County Board of Commissioners unanimously approved in December “to strengthen the County’s sanctuary commitment.” It also received $226,000 from the Metro Council, Oregon’s regional government, bringing the total taxpayer dollars used to counter federal immigration enforcement efforts to $476,000.