CITY OF SEATTLE
ORDINANCE __________________
COUNCIL BILL __________________
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AN ORDINANCE relating to information sharing for enforcement of civil immigration laws; prohibiting City provision of nonpublicly available personal information for use in civil immigration enforcement; clarifying the City’s position on immigration enforcement being a federal matter; making technical corrections; adding a new Section 4.18.016 to the Seattle Municipal Code; amending Section 4.18.015 of the Seattle Municipal Code; and repealing Section 4.18.010 of the Seattle Municipal Code.
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WHEREAS, The City of Seattle (“City”), per Ordinance 121063, does not inquire into the immigration status of any person; and
WHEREAS, the City recognizes that enforcement of civil immigration law is a federal matter that should not involve the participation of City employees or resources, unless required by law; and
WHEREAS, in 2019 the Washington State Legislature passed the Keep Washington Working Act (E2SSB 5497, codified in chapters 10.93, 43.10, 43.17, and 43.330 of the Revised Code of Washington) which restricts data collection and information sharing regarding civil immigration enforcement, including as relates to state agencies and state and local law enforcement agencies; and
WHEREAS, the City now reaffirms the limited role that City officers and employees should play with respect to matters relating to immigration status; and
WHEREAS, the Seattle Municipal Code imposes no specific obligation for cooperation with civil immigration enforcement; and
WHEREAS, City officers and employees are directed to safeguard the information privacy of those who live and work in Seattle from use in civil immigration enforcement, to the extent permitted by law; NOW, THEREFORE,
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY OF SEATTLE AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. Section 4.18.010 of the Seattle Municipal Code, enacted by Ordinance 113192, is repealed:
((4.18.010 Cooperation with enforcement of federal immigration laws.
City officers and employees are directed to cooperate with, and not hinder, enforcement of federal immigration laws.))
Section 2. Section 4.18.015 of the Seattle Municipal Code, enacted by Ordinance 121063, is amended as follows:
4.18.015 Inquiries into immigration status((.))
A. ((Notwithstanding Seattle Municipal Code Section 4.18.010, unless otherwise required by law or by court order, no)) No Seattle City officer or employee shall, unless otherwise required by law or by court order, inquire into the immigration status of any person, or engage in activities designed to ascertain the immigration status of any person.
B. Seattle Police officers are exempt from the limitations imposed by subsection 4.18.015.A((, above,)) with respect to a person whom the officer has reasonable suspicion to believe: (1) has previously been deported from the United States; (2) is again present in the United States; and (3) is committing or has committed a felony criminal-law violation.
Section 3. A new Section 4.18.016 is added to the Seattle Municipal Code as follows:
4.18.016 Prohibited information sharing
No City officer or employee shall provide any nonpublicly available personal information about any person to any non-City employee or non-City officer for use in the enforcement of civil immigration laws, unless:
A. That person has provided permission with informed consent to a City officer or employee; or
B. Such disclosure is required by law or court order.
“Nonpublicly available personal information” is defined as including one or more of the following, when the information is linked with or is reasonably linkable, including via analytic technology, to the person’s first name or first initial and last name: Location, home address, work address, place of birth, telephone number, social security number, driver’s license number or Washington identification card number, electronic mail address, social media handle or other identifying social media information, and any other means of contacting the person, or other personally identifiable information.
Section 4. This ordinance shall take effect as provided by Seattle Municipal Code Sections 1.04.020 and 1.04.070.
Passed by the City Council the ________ day of _________________________, 2026, and signed by me in open session in authentication of its passage this ________ day of _________________________, 2026.
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President ____________ of the City Council
Approved / returned unsigned / vetoed this ___ day of _________________, 2026.
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Katie B. Wilson, Mayor
Filed by me this ________ day of _________________________, 2026.
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Scheereen Dedman, City Clerk
(Seal)