CITY OF SEATTLE
ORDINANCE __________________
COUNCIL BILL __________________
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AN ORDINANCE relating to civil immigration enforcement; prohibiting civil immigration enforcement staging on all real property that is City owned and controlled; and adding a new Chapter 14.125 to the Seattle Municipal Code.
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WHEREAS, Executive Order 2025-08 directed the City to "develop and send to the City Council an ordinance prohibiting staging and operations of federal civil immigration enforcement activities on City property to the extent permissible by law"; and
WHEREAS, The City of Seattle (City), as a first-class city, has the authority to control the use of its own property and to ensure the intended purposes of that property; and
WHEREAS, state and local laws and policies prohibit City resources and personnel from being used to assist with or participate in activities that support or constitute federal civil immigration enforcement, unless otherwise required by law; and
WHEREAS, the Tenth Amendment to the United States Constitution prohibits the federal government from commandeering the City's resources against the City's will related to civil immigration enforcement activities; and
WHEREAS, the City is proud to be a Welcoming City, affirming its steadfast commitment to serve as a safe and supportive home for refugees and immigrants; and
WHEREAS, federal immigration operations and staging on City property is inconsistent with the City's values of protecting immigrant and refugee communities; and
WHEREAS, the City's laws and policies are designed to promote public safety and enhance trust between immigrant and refugee communities and their local government and local law enforcement; and
WHEREAS, there is precedent for federal civil immigration enforcement activities being staged on municipal property nationwide, creating a risk that such actions could occur in Seattle; and
WHEREAS, similarly situated municipalities, including the City of Chicago and Santa Clara Cou...
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