Councilmember Lin bill cleans up outdated language

Today the City Council passed Councilmember Eddie Lin’s (District 2) bill aimed at updating an outdated local law that provided the Seattle Police Department with the authority to inquire about residents’ immigration status. Council Bill 121180 updates the City Code to bring it in line with state law that prohibits local law enforcement from collecting citizenship information. The new ordinance is another step taken by the Council to address legitimate fear and concern from Seattle residents amidst escalating violence and intimidation by federal immigration enforcement.

“This law simply cleans up our City Code to better align with our Seattle values. I appreciate the collaboration during this process with other City Councilmembers, the City Attorney and Seattle Police Department to ensure our local policies are up-to-date and consistent,” said Councilmember Lin. “By doing this work, we are not only looking to protect our neighbors but also help diverse communities feel comfortable building a relationship with local law enforcement.”

Background

The legislation strikes outdated language from 2003 that allowed for immigration inquiries based on a multi-part “reasonable suspicion” test. By passing today’s bill, the Council now aligns City policy with the Keep Washington Working Act, a 2019 state law that prohibits local law enforcement from collecting such information unless there is a direct connection to a criminal investigation.

While internal Seattle Police Department policy has recently restricted these inquiries, the bill permanently codifies these protections into the Seattle Municipal Code.

Next steps

The bill now moves to the mayor’s office for consideration and possible signature. 

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