CITY OF SEATTLE
RESOLUTION __________________
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A RESOLUTION affirming The City of Seattle’s support of immigrant communities; stating its support of the Deferred Action Childhood Arrival (DACA) program; recognizing the roots and community DACA recipients have built in the Seattle/King County region and beyond, and The City of Seattle’s commitment to an inclusive, welcoming City and advancing policies to protect vulnerable communities while denouncing national and federal policies and rhetoric targeting immigrants and immigrant communities.
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WHEREAS, The City of Seattle values its ethnic, racial, linguistic, and socio-economic diversity, which is a source of strength in Seattle and beyond, and the City Council is committed to ensuring that all our residents can live and pursue their livelihoods in peace and prosperity; and
WHEREAS, the Trump Administration continues its campaign to compel local municipalities to enforce federal immigration law, and efforts by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to expand its deportation powers through local enforcement of immigration law erode community safety and trust in the Seattle Police Department (SPD) and other local law enforcement agencies; and
WHEREAS, compelled collaboration between local law enforcement and ICE erodes trust between law enforcement and immigrant communities, causing a “chilling effect” which results in immigrants being less likely to report crimes, act as witnesses in criminal investigations and prosecutions, or provide intelligence to law enforcement;, and
WHEREAS, immigration has been linked to decreases in violent and property crimes in urban cities, and immigrant communities help maintain public order, safety, and security in the entire City; and
WHEREAS, Section 4.18.015 of the Seattle Municipal Code and Resolutions 30355, 30796, and 31730 as adopted by The City of Seattle affirm the City’s commitment to maintaining Seattle as an inclusive Welcoming City where City departments and SPD do not ask about an individual’s immigration status, but instead prioritize promotion and maintenance of the health, welfare, and safety of all City residents and visitors; and
WHEREAS, President Trump has continued to disparage immigrant communities through his language, rhetoric, and promotion of policies that disproportionately and negatively impact immigrants and refugees;, and
WHEREAS, the Trump Administration’s efforts to punish “sanctuary cities,” , which do not help ICE’s “sweeps” or “dragnet” efforts,, create a chilling effect and climate for many immigrant communities, causing individuals and families to feel unsafe in their own communities, and afraid to report crime or to conduct their day-to-day activities;, and
WHEREAS, the Trump Administration has also threatened to shut down the federal government to coerce Congress into appropriating federal taxpayer dollars to build an ill-conceived wall at the U.S.-Mexico border; and
WHEREAS, a growing number of municipalities around the country are resisting actions and efforts by the Trump Administration threatening to invade privacy and liberties afforded to immigrants by the U.S. Constitution and federal laws. Through lawsuits and the courts, due process and other constitutional rights are being upheld to ensure communities are safe, and that all residents’ rights are protected so that their municipalities may continue to thrive; and
WHEREAS, community stakeholders and civic leaders continue to advocate to keep communities safe and inclusive. When communities are inclusive, all residents are safer through greater trust in our neighbors, and between communities and law enforcement; and
WHEREAS, the Migration Policy Institute estimates that 43,000 individuals are eligible for DACA in Washington State and a total of 35,843 Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) applications from Washington State have been approved by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). Nearly one in four DACA recipients in Washington State reside in the Seattle/King County area; and
WHEREAS, with DACA, tens of thousands of individuals all across Washington State can pursue their dreams of going to school, start a small business, and contribute to the local economy in the many fields that keep Washington State’s economy robust and competitive; and
WHEREAS, young people who came to the United States as children have come forward, passed background checks, and received permission to live and work in America nationwide to participate in DACA. This program is under immediate, existential threat, contrary to President Trump’s statements that he will protect DACA recipients. Calls to repeal DACA put 1,932,000 individuals eligible for DACA at risk of immediate deportation; and
WHEREAS, attacking DACA-eligible residents and threatening immediate deportation will not only cause deep harm to our economy, but tear apart families and communities where our DACA-eligible neighbors have built ties and relationships. Our economy and communities will suffer irreparable harm from such an immoral action; and
WHEREAS, the Dream Act of 2017 was introduced on July 20, 2017, by Senators Lindsey Graham (R-SC), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Jeff Flake (R-AZ), and Chuck Schumer (D-NY). This bipartisan bill would provide a direct road to U.S. citizenship for people who are either undocumented or have DACA or temporary protected status (TPS), and who graduate from U.S. high schools and attend college, enter the workforce, or enlist in a military program; and
WHEREAS, the City Council and Mayor stand by immigrant youth, including those protected by DACA, and support the continuation of the DACA program. The Council and Mayor oppose any federal action that would rescind or tamper with the DACA initiative; NOW, THEREFORE,
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SEATTLE, THE MAYOR CONCURRING, THAT:
Section 1. The City Council and the Mayor drafted a letter to Congressional leaders, with a copy to Washington’s Congressional Delegation, opposing President Trump’s reversal of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) Executive Order and urging Congress to pass the cleanest and strongest version possible of the DACA provisions before March 2018.
Section 2. The City Council and the Mayor will work with the Office of Intergovernmental Relations to ensure that the City’s position on DACA and related legislation are included in the City’s Federal Legislative priorities.
Section 3. The City Council and the Mayor oppose the withholding of federal funding to pressure local municipalities to enforce federal immigration policies. The Council and Mayor also oppose the use of federal funds to build a wall along our southern border and threats to shut down the federal government to get congressional approval to fund building a wall.
Section 4. The City Council and the Mayor denounce anti-immigrant, “show me your papers” bills like Texas’s Senate Bill 4, which promote racial profiling, discrimination, and harassment of immigrant communities and their families, and are opposed to any legislation or administrative action that will provide federal funds supporting the implementation of such bills.
Section 5. The City Council and Mayor are committed to working with regional and state governments, the Seattle Immigrant and Refugee Commission, and immigrant advocacy organizations on developing policies to protect vulnerable communities, especially immigrants. These include limiting the co-opting of local police by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE); strong privacy protections limiting the collection of confidential personal immigration status information; adoption of clear and transparent protocols for the certification of I-918B forms for U-Visas; vigorous opposition to any government registry based on religion or national origin; and commitment of resources for immigrant communities, including a fund to provide legal representation for indigent residents in deportation proceedings.
Section 6. The City Council and Mayor are committed to maintaining community stakeholder engagement around implementation of policies that preserve and protect our diverse and inclusive community and will work with established community-based organizations and commissions to connect immigrant community members with City government.
Adopted by the City Council the ________ day of _________________________, 2017, and signed by me in open session in authentication of its adoption this ________ day of _________________________, 2017.
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President ____________ of the City Council
The Mayor concurred the ________ day of _________________________, 2017.
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Tim Burgess, Mayor
Filed by me this ________ day of _________________________, 2017.
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Monica Martinez Simmons, City Clerk
(Seal)