UPDATED Monday, July 31

Federal immigration agents lodged a detainer in December 2016 against the man accused of attacking two women in Northeast Portland this week, officials said.

Sergio Jose Martinez

When Sergio Jose Martinez was held in the Multnomah County Jail on Dec. 7, 2016, U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement requested local authorities notify the agency prior to releasing him, spokeswoman Virginia Kice said in a statement to The Oregonian/OregonLive on Friday.

Martinez has been deported 20 times, according to Multnomah County court documents. He has a lengthy criminal record that includes several convictions in Oregon and burglary convictions in other states, according to court documents and the immigration agency.

Local authorities released Martinez on Dec. 8, 2016 without notifying immigration authorities, Kice said.

Oregon law prohibits public agencies from spending money, using equipment or enlisting personnel to enforce federal immigration law.

Multnomah County Sheriff Mike Reese said in a statement Monday that the sheriff's office followed state statutes and federal case law. The sheriff's office operates the jail.

Federal immigration officials did not send a criminal warrant to the sheriff's office prior to Martinez's release, which would have allowed the sheriff's office to hold Martinez longer, Reese said. Instead, they used a civil detainer, which cannot legally be used in Oregon.

"We held the defendant until he could not be legally held any longer," Reese said. "We used the full scope of authority at our disposal."

Reese's full statement can be read here.

In a September 2016 declaration, Reese said the sheriff's office follows the Federal District Court of Oregon's direction, which prohibits local jails from enforcing federal immigration detainers.

In February, the sheriff's office opened an investigation into whether county policies were violated when immigration agents arrested a man at an appointment with sheriff's deputies.

Martinez is accused of sexually assaulting a woman in her Northeast Portland home on Monday morning, then stealing her credit cards and car. Police say he attacked another woman in a parking garage later that day.

He is charged with several crimes including first-degree robbery, sex abuse and robbery and second-degree assault.

Deportation officers have lodged an immigration detainer against Martinez.

— Samantha Matsumoto

smatsumoto@oregonian.com

503-294-4001; @SMatsumoto55