Oregon has one EOIR immigration court, located in Portland. The Portland Immigration Court handles non-detained cases from the Portland DHS District Office, which covers Oregon and parts of Washington. Because Oregon state law prohibits local jails from contracting with ICE to hold civil immigration detainees and prohibits private immigration detention facilities, there are no long-term ICE detention facilities in Oregon. Most Oregon ICE detainees are transferred to the Northwest ICE Processing Center (NWIPC) in Tacoma, Washington, where their cases proceed before the Tacoma Immigration Court.
This means Oregon has a clear two-court structure: Portland for non-detained cases, Tacoma for most detained cases.
This page explains how immigration court works in Oregon, which court handles which cases, how to find hearing information, and what the removal proceeding process looks like from start to finish.
Oregon's Immigration Court Structure
Portland Immigration Court (non-detained Oregon cases):
1220 SW 3rd Avenue, Suite 500
Portland, Oregon 97204
Email: Portland.Immigration.Court@usdoj.gov
The Portland court covers the Portland DHS District Office, including sub-offices, as well as the Boise, Idaho DHS sub-office and the Helena, Montana DHS District Office. Oregon DOC facilities also fall under Portland jurisdiction. Non-detained respondents whose cases originate from the Portland DHS district appear here.
Tacoma Immigration Court (most Oregon detained cases):
1623 East J Street, Suite 3
Tacoma, Washington 98421
The Tacoma court handles detained cases from the Northwest ICE Processing Center (NWIPC) in Tacoma - the primary destination for Oregon ICE detainees. Oregon has no long-term ICE detention facilities of its own. When someone is arrested by ICE in Oregon, they may be held briefly at a Portland processing location (up to 12 hours), then transferred to Tacoma. The Tacoma court controls the detained docket for NWIPC and Oregon detainees transferred there.
Always use the EOIR Automated Case Information System at 800-898-7180 or the hearing notice to confirm which court controls a specific case.
How Immigration Court Differs From Criminal Court
Immigration court is a civil proceeding, not a criminal one. Removal proceedings take place before an immigration judge employed by the Department of Justice through the Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR). The government is represented by a DHS attorney from the Office of the Principal Legal Advisor (OPLA). The person in proceedings is called the respondent.
Being in removal proceedings is not a criminal charge and does not result in a criminal sentence. The outcome is either a grant of relief that allows the person to remain in the United States in some legal status, or a removal order directing them to leave. There is no jury. There is no public defender equivalent.
The respondent has the right to be represented by an attorney at their own expense. There is no right to a government-appointed attorney in immigration court except in narrow circumstances involving serious mental competency concerns. Not having a free attorney does not mean going without legal help. Legal aid organizations and nonprofits provide free or reduced-cost representation. Resources appear at the end of this page.
A word on notario fraud: in many countries, a notario publico is a licensed legal professional. In the United States, that title has no equivalent legal standing. Notarios, immigration consultants, and non-lawyers cannot represent people in immigration court and cannot legally provide immigration advice. Verify any representative's credentials before paying. Only a licensed attorney or a DOJ-accredited representative can appear in immigration court on someone's behalf.
The Removal Proceeding: Step by Step
Step one: The Notice to Appear
A removal proceeding begins when DHS issues a Notice to Appear (NTA). This is the charging document in immigration court. It identifies the grounds for removal and directs the person to appear before an immigration court. The NTA may or may not include a hearing date when served. If it does not, a separate hearing notice will arrive by mail.
Keeping the court and DHS informed of any address change is required by law. If a hearing notice goes to an old address and the respondent does not appear, the immigration judge can issue an in absentia order of removal. That order is very difficult to undo. Use Form EOIR-33 to update the court and separately notify DHS OPLA. Both must be done within five days of any move.
Step two: The Master Calendar Hearing
The first court appearance is a master calendar hearing. These are short administrative sessions where the immigration judge manages the case, confirms the respondent understands the charges and their rights, asks about legal representation, and sets the schedule. Multiple cases are heard in the same session.
At master calendar, the respondent enters a plea to the NTA charges, identifies forms of relief they intend to seek, and establishes a timeline for filing applications and evidence. If the respondent does not have an attorney at the first hearing, they can generally ask for additional time to find one.
Step three: The Individual Hearing
After master calendar, the case moves to an individual hearing, also called a merits hearing. This is the full evidentiary proceeding where the respondent presents their case for relief from removal. The judge hears testimony, receives evidence, and may question the respondent and witnesses. The DHS trial attorney presents the government's case. The judge then issues a decision.
Common forms of relief include asylum, withholding of removal, protection under the Convention Against Torture, cancellation of removal, adjustment of status, and voluntary departure. Whether any form of relief is available depends on the specific facts and immigration history of each case.
Step four: Bond Hearings
If a respondent is detained, they may request a bond hearing before an immigration judge. A bond hearing is separate from the removal hearing. The judge determines whether the respondent should be released pending their case, and at what bond amount, based on flight risk and danger to the community.
Not all detained respondents are eligible for a standard bond hearing. Those subject to mandatory detention under federal law do not have that right before an immigration judge. They may seek release through the federal courts via a habeas corpus petition.
Additionally, a February 4, 2026 federal court order requires DHS to conduct a flight risk analysis before making warrantless arrests in Oregon. If someone was arrested in Oregon without this analysis, contact ACLU of Oregon immediately.
For Oregon detainees transferred to NWIPC Tacoma, bond hearings are handled by the Tacoma Immigration Court.
Step five: The Decision and Appeal
After the individual hearing, the immigration judge issues a written decision. If relief is granted, the respondent may remain in the United States under the granted status. If removal is ordered, the respondent has the right to appeal to the Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA) in Falls Church, Virginia.
A BIA appeal must be filed within 30 calendar days of the immigration judge's decision. Missing that deadline forfeits the right to appeal.
If the BIA affirms the removal order, the respondent may seek review in the federal circuit court. Oregon falls within the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. A petition for review must be filed in the Ninth Circuit within 30 days of the BIA's order.
How to Find Hearing Information
EOIR Automated Case Information System: 800-898-7180 (English and Spanish; TDD: 800-828-1120). Available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Online: acis.eoir.justice.gov
The A-Number (Alien Registration Number) is required to look up case information. It appears on immigration documents and on any EOIR hearing notice.
EOIR court finder by ZIP code: justice.gov/eoir/find-immigration-court-and-access-internet-based-hearings
Portland Immigration Court (Oregon non-detained): 1220 SW 3rd Avenue, Suite 500, Portland, OR 97204
Tacoma Immigration Court (Oregon detained): 1623 East J Street, Suite 3, Tacoma, WA 98421
NWIPC Tacoma (where most Oregon detainees are held): 1623 East J Street, Tacoma, WA 98421 | 253-779-6000
If You Miss a Hearing
Missing an immigration court hearing is one of the most serious events in a removal case. If a respondent does not appear at a scheduled hearing and has been properly notified, the immigration judge will typically issue an in absentia order of removal.
An in absentia order can sometimes be reopened, but only in limited circumstances: if the respondent did not receive proper notice, or if exceptional circumstances beyond their control prevented attendance. If a hearing has been missed, contact an immigration attorney immediately.
How Detention Connects to the Court Process
Detention and removal proceedings are separate matters. A person can be in removal proceedings without being detained (non-detained docket), or detained while their case moves through court (detained docket). The detained docket generally moves faster.
Oregon has no long-term ICE detention facilities due to state law. Anyone arrested by ICE in Oregon will be briefly held at a Portland processing location and then transferred to NWIPC Tacoma - about 170 miles north via I-5. Families should use locator.ice.gov to track the detainee's location. The InmateAid guide to ICE detention in Oregon covers the transfer process, NWIPC Tacoma visiting and communication details, and the status of the contested Newport expansion proposal.
Legal Resources for Oregon Respondents
Innovation Law Lab - innovationlawlab.org | 503-765-5686 | Portland - Primary organization tracking ICE enforcement and expansion in Oregon. Know Your Rights resources and legal referrals.
Northwest Immigrant Rights Project (NWIRP) - nwirp.org | 206-587-4009 | Seattle - Primary legal services organization for detained immigrants at NWIPC Tacoma, serving Oregon residents transferred there.
Oregon Law Center - oregonlawcenter.org | 503-981-5291 | Woodburn - Free civil legal services for low-income Oregonians including immigration.
ACLU of Oregon - aclu-or.org | 503-227-3186 - Active in challenging warrantless arrests and proposed ICE detention facilities in Oregon.
Catholic Charities of Oregon - catholiccharitiesoregon.org | 503-231-4866 - Immigration legal services through the Archdiocese of Portland.
CLINIC Affiliates - cliniclegal.org - Catholic Legal Immigration Network accredited organizations in Oregon. Search by ZIP code.
EOIR Free Legal Services List - justice.gov/eoir/free-legal-services-providers - Lists attorneys and organizations for the Portland and Tacoma immigration courts.
Immigration Court Online Resource (ICOR) - Available through the EOIR website - Self-help materials for respondents navigating proceedings without an attorney.
This page provides factual information about the immigration court process as it applies to Oregon. It is not legal advice and does not create an attorney-client relationship. Immigration law is complex and individual circumstances vary significantly. Consult a licensed immigration attorney or DOJ-accredited representative for advice specific to your situation.
Immigration law and agency policy change. Court jurisdictions, hearing locations, and procedures are subject to change without notice. Always verify current court information using the EOIR Automated Case Information System at 800-898-7180 or at justice.gov/eoir. The information on this page reflects conditions as of June 2026.