An immigrant activist seeking sanctuary in a Portland church has been arrested on charges of illegal re-entry despite strong protests from locals.

Francisco Aguirre was deported 15 years ago from the US as a result of a drug trafficking conviction and then unlawfully re-entered the country, authorities said.

The El Salvador native was arrested this week after an appearance at the Clackamas County Circuit Court in relation to a charge of driving under the influence.

According KATU news network he was indicted by a grand jury at the end of September on the charge of re-entering the US unlawfully.

The authorities say Aguirre is a risk to public safety but the 35-year-old claims the criminal prosecutions against him are untrue. 

He has won local support through his work as an immigration activist and the coordinator of Portland non-profit Voz Workers' Rights Education Project, which runs a day labour centre.

After the authorities tried to arrest him on September 19, the Augustana Lutheran Church in north-east Portland gave sanctuary to Aguirre, a father of two children who are American citizen.

The church is one of dozens in Oregon that have signed up to the sanctuary movement providing refuge to immigrants in the US illegally.

A vigil was held for Aguirre on Thursday and according to KATU, his immigration lawyer said he is in the process of obtaining a U-visa for crime victims who help authorities with their investigations.