NEWS GLEAMS | Sanctuary Cities and States Battle With Federal Government; Understanding One’s Immigration Rights

Sanctuary Cities and States Battle With Federal Government

Immigration Organizations Stress for People to Know Their Rights

King County Executive Dow Constantine Invests $107 Million in Land Conservation Awards

Current Status of Immigration Raids and Deportations

Since President Trump took office on Jan. 20, a flurry of immigration-related executive orders were signed, thus setting into motion swift action by the federal government. Among the new policies include the activation of the Department of Defense and military resources toward managing immigration at the southern border, as well as the ability for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials to make arrests in civil spaces, such as hospitals, schools, and churches. The ability to make arrests in civil spaces has been in effect since 2011 but was not actively practiced by former President Joe Biden's administration.

As of this morning, ICE has already reported making 956 arrests on Sunday, 286 on Saturday, 593 on Friday, and 538 on Thursday, putting the current total at 2,373. A lower number of individuals are likely to have been detained across the entire country, including 554 on Sunday. Raids have already happened in a number of Democratic strongholds, such as California, Colorado, New York, Rhode Island, New Jersey, and Minnesota.

ICE has also increased its presence in a number of other states, including across the Southwest, where ICE has detained at least 15 Indigenous people, according to the Navajo Nation. Trump's recent attempt to suspend birthright citizenship has also led to his administration's questioning of whether Indigenous peoples should receive rights for birthright citizenship.

Sanctuary Cities, States, and Movements

The city of Chicago is the third largest in the country and perhaps the largest that has recently fought back against the Trump administration's attempts to make arrests within city limits, because of its policies as a "sanctuary city." In accordance with the city's "Welcoming City" ordinance, Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson has said the Chicago Police Department (CPD) is not involved with the operation and that the mayor's team is working closely with city officials, including CPD. CPD has also told CNN that it does not document immigration status and "does not share information with federal immigration authorities." 

In recent days, many cities, including Seattle, prefer to use the term "Welcoming City" instead of "Sanctuary City." The City of Seattle adopted some of its first sanctuary policies in 2003 and has expanded on them numerous times, notably in 2010, 2016, and 2017. Currently, according to the City, "all City departments prioritize and consider policies, actions, and practices that help immigrant and refugee communities succeed." City departments also do not ask about each individual's immigration status, with the exception of police officers, who may have reason to believe someone may have a felony criminal law violation or have knowledge that a person has been previously deported.

Washington State put into place its own Keep Washington Working Act in 2019. Similarly, it bans local police from detaining individuals based on civil immigration warrants or asking about their immigration status in noncriminal cases. It also prohibits state, local, and federal agencies from sharing information about immigration.

President Trump's signing of the executive order "Protecting the American People Against Invasion" puts Washington State in the spotlight as a region that may face potential ICE raids and attempts at mass deportation. A recent Department of Justice (DOJ) memo has suggested that the DOJ may begin prosecuting local officials who do not help ICE, as in the case of Chicago.

The memo states, "laws and actions that threaten to impede Executive Branch immigration initiatives, including by prohibiting disclosures of information to federal authorities engaged in immigration-enforcement activities, threaten public safety and national security. The Civil Division shall work with the newly established Sanctuary Cities Enforcement Working Group, within the Office of the Associate Attorney General, to identify state and local laws, policies, and activities that are inconsistent with Executive Branch immigration initiatives and, where appropriate, to take legal action to challenge such laws."

The Sanctuary City movement began with Berkeley, California, in 1971. Berkeley was the first city to claim this status, though its initial reading protected U.S. Navy soldiers who resisted the war in Vietnam. In 1987, the state of Oregon became the first to declare itself a Sanctuary State, thus creating a road map for other states to follow.

A parallel sanctuary movement first began in the early 1980s, when numerous denominations of churches declared they would provide safety for Central American migrants who were fleeing violence and civil war in their home countries.

In the wake of impending changes in the nation's immigration laws and deportation practices, immigration organizations have been widely sharing resources for immigrants, undocumented individuals, and allies to know their immigration rights. The knowledge is designed for those who may be affected by deportations, those who may be misidentified as possibly deportable, and those who wish to support their community members.

According to Campaign Zero, things to keep in mind include: 

One's Personal Rights

• U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) cannot search one's person, property, home, or car without a warrant with one's name on it.

• Similarly, if ICE is at one's door, one does not have to open it unless ICE has a signed warrant with one's name on it. The warrant must be signed by a judge, not ICE.

• If ICE tricks one into letting them into one's house, one can ask them to leave.

• If one is stopped by an ICE officer, one has the right to remain silent.

• Passengers of a stopped vehicle do not need to provide their identification; only drivers are required to.

• If one wishes to leave an interaction with ICE, they are advised to say they do not consent to the search, ask to leave, and refuse to be searched or fingerprinted.

• If ICE forces one to comply — even if it is not within their rights — one may be safer by not resisting.

Things ICE May Attempt

• ICE may pretend it has discovered a lost ID or claim someone is a crime suspect whom it is investigating.

• ICE may call to ask one where they are or convince one to meet at a location outside their home, where ICE may not need a warrant.

• ICE may pretend to be local police officers and wear plain clothes or uniforms that say "Police" or "Federal Agent."

See more immigrants' rights resources at ACLU.org. Find a local immigration-rights organization or speak to an immigration lawyer if you or someone you know is at risk of potential deportation.

Earlier this month, King County Executive Dow Constantine, with the approval of the King County Council, announced $107 million in land conservation awards. They will be used to support more than 3,000 acres of open space across 53 projects that are managed by cities, government entities, or nonprofits.

All supported projects will assist in climate resilience, habitat restoration, farmland access, and environmental justice efforts, and they are all in alignment with Executive Constantine's goals established in King County's Land Conservation Initiative, Strategic Climate Action Plan, Local Food Initiative, and Clean Water Healthy Habitat. The decisions were based on recommendations from the Conservation Futures Advisory Committee, a 16-member volunteer board.

Projects that affect South Seattle and South King County, in particular, include:

Urban Greenspaces, Farmland Access, Conversion of Industrial Zones Into Parks
20 Projects Receiving a Combined $33.5 Million
Led by Cities and Local Nonprofit Organizations

• Nurturing Roots' Empowering Southend Communities through Sustainable Conservation: The creation of an urban farm near the Rainier Beach light rail station, in order to build food sovereignty in South Seattle.

• Seattle's Westwood-Highland Park Urban Village: The creation of a full acre of park access near White Center, through the combination of new open space with the future acquisition of repurposed properties that are currently owned by the Seattle Department of Transportation. 

• Watershed Community Development's Bend Live/Work District Park: New greenspace in Georgetown, as part of a 100% affordable housing and social services development that will serve local artists and residents.

• Seattle's North Beacon Hill/Mount Baker Urban Village Acquisitions: Protection of a city block of mature urban forest, within walking distance of the two Sound Transit Link light rail stations in north Beacon Hill and Mount Baker.

• Auburn's Downtown Open Space Addition: Creation of the City of Auburn's first downtown city park and public space.

Forest Health, Clean Water, Healthy Habitats
33 Projects Receiving $73.8 Million
Led by the King County Department of Natural Resources and Parks

• Protection of about 400 acres of forest with small streams, located at Union Hill in unincorporated King County between Sammamish and Carnation. The project will be moving into its second phase, and its funds will protect a large block of forest and improve water quality for salmon.

• Expansion of stormwater park and wetland restoration near Renton, at Cemetary Pond, which will support public trail access, viewpoints, and signage.

• Acquisition of 60 acres along Jenkins Creek near Covington, which will help reduce water temperatures and pollution that affect a salmon-bearing stream.

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