Mayor shares resources in response to Immigration Enforcement activity

The Office of the Mayor recently released information and resources for the Stand Together Initiative, Seattle's response to Immigration Enforcement activity.

What is the Stand Together Initiative?

1. The Stand Together Seattle Initiative invites private property owners (home owners, businesses and property owners) to post notices stating that their property may not be accessed by federal agents without a warrant.

2. Download, print, and post a Stand Together Seattle sign at your business or home.

3. The City has posted signs prohibiting civil immigration enforcement staging on any city-owned and city-controlled property.

4. Property owners and leaseholders that use this signage do so at their own discretion and assume any legal risk associated herewith. The City cannot prevent ICE and federal immigration enforcement activity on private property. Do not attempt to hinder or obstruct federal enforcement activity.

5. The Stand Together Initiative is based on the City's policy on Immigration Enforcement, which includes several key components:

   1. City of Seattle employees, including the Seattle Police Department, do not enforce federal civil immigration laws and cannot ask about an individual’s immigration status.

   2. The federal government bears sole responsibility to enforce civil immigration laws. The City of Seattle does not act under federal direction even amid heightened enforcement activity.

   3. City officers and employees are prohibited from asking about immigration status, unless otherwise required by law or by court order.

Poster for the Stand Together Initiative

Know Your Rights and Legal Resources

Know Your Rights Information:

• For Immigrants, Refugees, and Advocates

• For Businesses

• Office of the Attorney General, Know Your Rights & Keep Washington Working

Additional services for immigrants:

• Immigrant Rapid Response Program

• Create a family safety plan in case someone you know is detained by immigration enforcement or facing deportation.

Important Phone Numbers

• Mutual aid or community support – If you are seeking mutual aid or care, or want to share timely information regarding immigration needs, call or text WAISN’s deportation defense to report it: 1 (844) 724-3737 (Mon–Fri, 6 AM – 6 PM)

• Emergencies – If you believe there is an immediate threat to someone’s life, call 911.  

• Non-Emergency Reporting – If you want to report a nuisance such as noise or parking, a non-emergency crime (one that did not just occur), or if you have questions about something occurring in your neighborhood and you are not sure it is criminal activity call (206) 625-5011.

• Washington 211 – For health and human services referrals or resources, call Washington 211 at 1 (877) 211-9274. TTY for the deaf and hard of hearing and interpreter services are also available in 140+ languages.

• 988 Lifeline – To speak with a counselor if you are facing emotional distress, mental health struggles, or just need someone to talk to, call or text 988.

Food and Basic Needs Resources

• Need free medical care? Attend the Seattle Center King County Clinic from April 23-26.

• Public benefits information for immigrants in WA.

• Free In-Person and Virtual Tax Help with the Seattle Public Library.

• Seattle Public Utilities Emergency Assistance Program.

• Seattle and King County Emergency Food Resources Map.

Planning Protests (Free Speech Events)

• The City Supports your First Amendment rights, including the right to express your views through Free Speech Events.

• To plan Free Speech Event, organizers should apply for an application.

• Organizers should also ensure they have an emergency safety plan in place.

• SPD’s Police Outreach Engagement Team (POET) officers are present at demonstrations to support community members to safely and effectively exercise their rights to free speech and assembly. 

What is the role of Seattle Police Department (SPD) and other Emergency Services?

The Seattle Police Department’s primary responsibility is the life and safety of everyone. If officers receive a 911 call, they will respond as available and will ensure the scene is safe for everyone present, then provide medical aid to any person(s) as soon as possible.

SPD policy explicitly states that employees will not inquire about any person’s citizenship or immigration status, request specific documents for the sole purpose of determining a person’s immigration status, or initiate, maintain, or participate in any police action based on an individual’s immigration status. 

If dispatched to a location where apparent immigration enforcement is underway, SPD officers will:

• Document the activity with in-car and body-worn video

• Attempt to contact the reporting party using Language Line interpreting services as needed

• Validate the status of apparent federal law enforcement agents through official identification

• Address related public safety concerns like traffic and crowd management

• Provide or facilitate first aid, and;

• Secure scenes of potentially unlawful acts to gather evidence for transmittal to prosecutors