Friday, Jul 24, 2026 The claims desk. Receipts included. POWERED BY LENZ
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POLITICS

The Claim

Oregon Governor Tina Kotek directed the Oregon Driver and Motor Vehicle Services Division (DMV) to stop issuing undercover (confidential) license plates to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents.

The Short Version

Official state records and multiple independent news reports show that Gov. Tina Kotek ordered Oregon DMV to stop issuing confidential license plates to ICE agents. A broader DMV pause for all federal agencies had already begun earlier, but her June 2026 directive specifically made ICE the excluded agency going forward.

Caveats

  • DMV had already paused undercover plate issuance to all federal agencies before the governor’s directive, so the order was not the first interruption in the program.
  • The action targeted ICE specifically; it did not end the undercover plate program for every federal agency.
  • Reports use both 'undercover' and 'confidential' license plates; they refer to the same DMV program in this context.

The Receipts

  1. Governor Kotek Directs Oregon DMV to Stop Issuing Undercover License Plates to ICE

    Oregon Governor's Office

  2. Letter to Oregon Governor from AAG Shumate Regarding Oregon DMV Registration and License Plates Policy

    U.S. Department of Justice

  3. Oregon governor orders state DMV to stop issuing undercover license plates to ICE

    Reuters

  4. Letter from Governor Tina Kotek regarding Undercover License Plates (to legislative leaders)

    Oregon Legislature / Governor’s Office

  5. Oregon governor bars state from issuing undercover license plates to ICE

    Reuters

  6. Gov. Kotek: Oregon won’t give confidential license plates to undercover ICE agents

    OPB (Oregon Public Broadcasting)

  7. Oregon governor bars state DMV from issuing undercover license plates to ICE agents

    Reuters

  8. Oregon Gov. Kotek orders Oregon DMV to stop issuing undercover license plates to ICE

    KATU

  9. Governor Kotek orders Oregon DMV to stop issuing undercover plates to ICE

    KOIN 6 News

  10. Gov. Kotek says Oregon DMV will keep denying undercover license plates to ICE

    KGW (NBC affiliate – Portland)

+ 3 more sources — see the full list on Lenz

Filed Under

OregonOregon Driver And Motor Vehicle Services DivisionTina KotekU.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement

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