Legislation to be heard in Public Safety Committee Tuesday
Councilmember Maritza Rivera (District 4) has introduced a new bill (CB 121158) that amends Seattle’s Municipal Code to explicitly prohibit City employees from sharing non-public information for use in the enforcement of civil immigration laws, in the absence of a judicial warrant, and strikes old code language that directed cooperation. The legislation provides much needed clarity around information sharing as federal officials continue the unprecedented and egregious actions targeting immigrant communities.
“We need to provide clarity by amending our code to not only reflect our values as a City, but to also to align with State and local laws and policies. There should be no confusion where we stand, and no confusion of the law,” said Councilmember Rivera. “The brutal, dehumanizing and, I believe, unconstitutional behavior by ICE officials in our city and others is unacceptable. Whatever actions we can take, such as clarifying and strengthening Seattle’s laws, must be taken. That is what I have done here, and I hope we can act quickly to adopt this bill and protect our residents.”
The City has sought to protect the personal information of those who live and work in Seattle through various Council actions and Mayoral policies. In recent years officials have intended to prevent situations where federal agencies might try to carry out immigration enforcement based on data obtained from City departments.
Councilmember Rivera’s bill would go a step further by creating a new section of Seattle Municipal Code that explicitly bans City employees from sharing sensitive personal information for use in immigration enforcement.
Committee meeting information
- WHAT: Briefing and possible vote on Immigration Information Sharing Ordinance (CB 121158) in Public Safety Committee
- WHEN: Tuesday, Feb. 10 at 9:30 a.m., Councilmember Rivera will have media availability immediately following
- WHERE: Council Chambers, Seattle City Hall, 600 4th Avenue, Seattle, WA 98104
Those unable to attend this public hearing in-person can watch a livestream online via the Seattle Channel.
MEDIA: To request an interview or accommodations please contact Wendy Sykes, District 4 Chief of Staff, at 206-684-8804 or wendy.sykes@seattle.gov.
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