Watch the video here. Read the statement below.
Yesterday, armed ICE agents in an unmarked vehicle detained three North Seattle neighbors at Washelli Cemetery.
I am furious at the federal government’s abuse of power. It is unacceptable to kidnap people who are simply going about their lives. There is no place for it in Seattle.
This latest abuse comes on the heels of the murder of Renee Nicole Good in Minneapolis by federal agents. Renee was a poet. A caring neighbor. A mother – someone with a family whose community is now grieving unimaginable loss. These are not abstractions. These are real people, real families, real harm.
I know many people in our community are frightened and outraged about the way ICE and other federal enforcement agencies are being deliberately deployed across the country to intimidate and harm our communities.
I’m heartbroken and outraged too.
This moment demands action. Here’s what we’re doing and how you can help.
Seattle is a welcoming city. We already have laws in place that forbid the local police from aiding ICE in most instances. The police will enforce these laws.
That’s an important step. But it’s also true that we have limited authority with regard to the actions of federal agencies, and I know our existing laws are not enough to keep people safe. So I’m working with Police Chief Barnes, City Attorney Evans, immigrant rights groups, and local leaders to identify every possible legal argument, public resource, and creative tool we can use to keep the people of Seattle safe.
This will take all of us. I urge you to sign up for the Washington for All ICE Mobilization Alerts. And don’t stop there. I encourage you to raise your voices and demand that every elected official does what they can to actually protect the people who make our neighborhoods home.
This is a scary situation. And situations like this are when we show ourselves who we are and what we believe. In Seattle, we practice solidarity. Everyone should be safe in their homes, in their workplaces, and their city.
My message to our immigrant neighbors: This is your city. You should be safe here.
And I’m determined to make it that way.
City of Seattle resources
Visit the Seattle Office of Immigrant and Refugee Affairs (OIRA) and the Immigrant Rapid Response Program for culturally responsive support and resources, including legal consultations, Know Your Rights trainings, family safety planning, and a hotline to report immigration enforcement activity.