Politics
Burien adopts limits on city cooperation with immigration enforcement
Burien’s City Council has unanimously approved a resolution barring city cooperation with civil immigration enforcement absent a judicial warrant and prohibiting city contracts with ICE. Council members also began considering a six-month pause on detention centers.
BURIEN, Wash. — The Burien City Council has unanimously approved a resolution strengthening city protections for immigrant communities, including limits on local cooperation with federal civil immigration enforcement.
The council approved Resolution 542 as part of its consent agenda Monday night, following a unanimous vote at its previous regular meeting. The measure prohibits city cooperation with civil immigration enforcement unless authorities have a judicial warrant, bars city contracts with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and prohibits immigration enforcement operations on city property. It also requires city staff to report contacts from federal immigration authorities.
Mayor Sarah Moore said the vote reflected broad agreement among council members. “We don’t always vote seven to nothing on things, and we were very together on this — we have been from the beginning,” she said.
Moore described Burien as a community shaped by residents from around the world and said its diversity is a source of strength.
Three members of the King County Immigrant Rights Alliance attended in support. Alliance member Izzy McCabe urged the city to act as federal immigration enforcement moves quickly, saying even preventing harm to one person would make the effort worthwhile.
The council also began discussing a proposed six-month moratorium on detention centers. A draft is expected to come before the council at its next meeting, scheduled for Oct. 26.