After months of community organizing and advocacy, King County, Washington Council adopted a new Immigration Ordinance that protects the privacy and civil liberties for immigrant and refugee communities. The Ordinance serves as a national model for counties to ensure that their limited resources are not being used to collaborate with an aggressive deportation agenda. King County has been on the cutting edge of fair and equitable immigration legislation for the past decade. In 2009, the County adopted legislation to ensure residents, regardless of immigration status, felt safe coming to police to report crimes. This new ordinance is no exception to that trend and further outlines explicit policies to protect the health and safety of immigrants and refugee communities.
In response to aggressive federal policies that seek to disenfranchise and marginalize immigrant and refugee residents, King County took action. Community coalitions in conjunction with legal organizations partnered with the local government officials to address real harms experienced by residents. The Immigration ordinance is a testament to the efficacy of collective power to build powerful advocacy campaigns. Member Larry Gossett, was the lead sponsor of the ordinance, with Co-sponsors, Joe McDermott, Jeanne Kohl-Welles, and Rod Dembowski. The Immigration Ordinance was introduced to the Law and Justice Committee in November of 2017, discussed in January, and finally passed on February 26, 2018.
Immigration is an Issue of Equity
The United States is a country of immigrants and only a small percentage of current residents of the landmass are directly known descendants of those living here 500 years ago. Nevertheless, there is a deep history of racism directly intertwined with immigration law, policy, and economic need. At various moments, which groups have been allowed to claim the privileges of “whiteness” has fluctuated. This designation is often linked to when certain groups of people arrive to the U.S. and in what numbers.
The recent wave of immigration is receiving considerable public attention and is a source of great controversy. The fights over immigration reform are being contested in real time: what does it mean for immigration to be “legal” or “illegal” immigration, which children raised in the U.S. can stay, and which tax paying families can claim benefits of education, health care, and social security. With the Trump Administration’s Muslim ban, vehement advocacy of a boarder wall, and increased number of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers making arrests, issues of immigration are center-stage in our communities. These policies induce a “chilling effect” on immigrant communities who fear arrest, detention, and deportation – no longer able to seek the health care and protection to which they are entitled.[1]
Communities Under Attack Build Strong Coalitions
In January of 2017, two groups were formed to bring advocates together to talk about immigration issues. The Justice Advocacy Network focused on the policies and rights of immigrants while the Washington Immigrant Solidarity Network built collective power by focusing on organizing, education awareness, and advocacy on issues as they arose. Both of these groups met continuously to discuss problems of ICE and the role of government collaboration with ICE. If the government is an institution of the people and for, how could King County prepare to fight against the new federal policies and continue to protect the rights of the most vulnerable residents of our communities?
That began the conversations around crafting policies to limit the county’s ability to collaborate with ICE and ensure that enforcing federal immigration law does not become the business of local government. The Washington chapter of the ACLU as well as the Washington Defenders Association got involved with the community advocacy groups to draft the nitty-gritty language of the ordinance. “There was organizing across the board, from the criminal justice advocates, to labor, faith-based, and immigrant advocacy communities,” said Annie Benson, senior directing attorney with the Washington Defenders Association. Benson, in addition to other lawyers and policy wonks drafting the language collaborated directly with the community groups on the ground. “There was real collaboration with the stakeholders at all levels and when council members met to discuss policy issues, there were always community members present,” said Benson. “With such a broad-based coalition, it ensures a higher likelihood of success.”
The overwhelming support in King County for this legislation was remarkable. In the weeks preceding the passing of the ordinance, 
the County Executive Office received over 1,200 emails in just one week expressing community support. “So many organizations supported this ordinance that it gave undocumented and non-citizens the confidence to speak out and share really powerful and intimate stories,” said Enoka Herat, ACLU of Washington Police Practices and Immigrant Rights Counsel. “Being faced with what’s happening on national level, it brought tears to my eyes to see the overwhelming support in King County,” said Herat. Immigrants, refugees, and those most directly affected were not the only people who spoke out; Council members were vocal, sheriffs stood up, and even the commander of the county jail was supportive of this ordinance. “It was inspiring to see people in positions of power be leaders and listen to their communities.”
The Model Ordinance
This ordinance will prevent the use of County funds and resources on federal immigration enforcement. Additionally, it outlines positive steps toward protecting and supporting the wellbeing of immigrants and refugees who seek services from the county. The ordinance puts into effect an actionable plan to make King County a more safe and equitable place to live for all community members, regardless of their nationality or immigration status.
Key Provisions
- King County employees, including law enforcement officers, are prohibited from asking about immigration status or investigating whether an individual has violated civil immigration laws.
- The County will not deny anyone public benefits or services based on immigration status, unless requited by law.
- The County will prevent federal immigration agents from having access to non-public areas of county facilities or give them access to databases without a judicial warrant.
The Legislation also outlines the county’s working relationship with the office of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE):
- The King County Jail will continue its policy of not honoring ICE request for notification or detention unless accompanied by a judicial warrant,
- Jail staff will explain to all people in jail who face the possibility of ICE interviews their right to remain silent as well as their ability to decline an interview.[2]
Takeaways
This ordinance is one of the most progressive pieces of legislation providing protection to immigrants and refugees; thus it will likely be adopted as a model for other governments. Even smaller cities, that might not have the capacity to establish an Immigration and Refugee Commission, can draw from the best practices identified by King County. In addition to the substantive changes in the county, this ordinance serves as a symbolic statement reaffirming King Count’s commitment to protecting and promoting the advancement of immigrant and refugee communities.
Not only are the policies exemplary, but the process for passing the legislation can serve as a model as well. This is an example of passionate community organizing and a government who listened to the people in the community. King County Council partnered with local legal institutions and community advocacy groups to create laws that benefit the communities they seek to serve. The method of passing this immigration ordinance displays a replicable model of good governance.
[1] https://sph.umich.edu/pursuit/2018posts/increased-immigration-enforcement-and-anti-Immigrant-rhetoric-has-potential-chilling-effect-on-health-care-access.html
[2] Unlike police, ICE agents are not legally required to inform individuals of their Miranda Rights.
For a full PDF version of the ordinance, click here.