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Markey, Merkley, Senate Colleagues Demand Answers from Trump Administration on Treatment of Unaccompanied Children

February 11, 2026

Recent events demonstrate Trump administration’s deliberate attempts to target unaccompanied minors Letter Text (PDF) Washington, D.C. – Senators Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) and Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) today led a group of nine lawmakers in writing to Attorney General Pam Bondi, Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem, Secretary of Health and

Merkley Denounces Unjust Sentencing of Hong Kong Democracy Advocate Jimmy Lai

February 8, 2026

Washington, D.C. – Today, Oregon’s U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley—a senior member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and past Chair of the Congressional-Executive Commission on China (CECC)—issued this statement following the sentencing of Jimmy Lai, an entrepreneur and democracy advocate in Hong Kong who has been imprisoned since 2020 under

Merkley, Salinas Lead New Bill to Hold ICE, CBP Accountable for Abusing Americans’ Constitutional Rights

January 29, 2026

Washington, D.C. – Today, Oregon’s U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley and U.S. Representative Andrea Salinas (OR-06) introduced new legislation to hold U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) liable for violating individuals’ constitutional rights. The ICE and CBP Constitutional Accountability Act would make the federal government

Merkley, Durbin, Peters Lead Amicus Brief Urging Circuit Court to Affirm the Critical Protections of Minors in Immigration Detention

January 28, 2026

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Ranking Member of the Senate Budget Committee, Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and Gary Peters (D-MI), Ranking Member of the Senate Homeland Security & Governmental Affairs Committee led a group of 23 Senators in filing an

Merkley, Colleagues Urge U.S. to Maintain Focus on Human Rights, Good Governance in Relationship with the Philippines

January 14, 2026

Washington, D.C. – Oregon’s U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley—a senior member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee—led U.S. Senators Tim Kaine (D-VA), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Peter Welch (D-VT), and Ron Wyden (D-OR) in urging U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio to ensure human rights and good governance are cornerstones of

Blackburn, Merkley Urge FIFA to Recognize Afghan Women United as Afghanistan’s Women’s Football Team

November 24, 2025

‘Despite [FIFA’s] stated human rights standards, the body has too often failed to enforce them consistently’ NASHVILLE, Tenn. – U.S. Senators Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) and Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) sent a letter to the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) President Gianni Infantino urging FIFA to formally recognize Afghan Women’s United as Afghanistan’s national women’s football team and to

Merkley, Cruz Lead Bipartisan Group of Senators to Urge U.S. Action to Free Wrongfully Detained Pastor Jin, Support Religious Freedom in China

November 19, 2025

Washington, D.C. – Today, Oregon’s U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley and Texas’ U.S. Senator Ted Cruz led a bipartisan effort to push for immediate action from U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio in response to the Chinese government detaining Pastor “Ezra” Jin Mingri and dozens of other Zion Church leaders for

Merkley: ICE Raids Across Oregon Terrorize Our Communities

November 12, 2025

Washington, D.C. – Today, Oregon’s U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley issued the following statement in response to escalating U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids in communities throughout Oregon: “It’s been disturbing to see raid after raid terrorizing our communities with ICE agents violently detaining people solely based on the color

Dexter, Wyden, Merkley, and Bonamici Secure Release of Portland Mother After Months of Unlawful ICE Detention 

October 27, 2025

“I can’t wait to hug my babies. And then I will get to work for others like me,” said Jackie Merlos PORTLAND, OR— Today, Congresswoman Maxine Dexter, M.D. (OR-03), Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley, and Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01) announced that Jackie Merlos has been released from Immigration and Customs

Dexter, Wyden, Merkley, Bonamici Press ICE to Release Portland Mother After Court Clears Her Case

October 22, 2025

PORTLAND, OR— Today, Congresswoman Maxine Dexter, M.D. (OR-03) led a letter with Senators Ron Wyden, Jeff Merkley, and Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01) calling on Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to immediately release Jackie Merlos, a Portland mother who remains detained at the Northwest ICE Processing Center (NWIPC) despite an immigration judge terminating