Durkan decries Trump’s proposed weekend ICE raids, warns residents

In just a few days, ICE is expected to conduct immigration raids in 10 major cities.

Seattle isn’t expected to be a target. But Mayor Jenny Durkan has ordered all city departments to prepare, just in case.

She wants the city to be able to help residents to know their rights, and be referred to legal help, if necessary.

“The political decision to order an escalation in ICE raids will distract and drain resources from real public safety threats and to purposely cause widespread fear and uncertainty for all immigrants in their daily lives. Let’s be clear: our region won’t be bullied, we stand with our immigrant communities, and we will not let our law enforcement officials become a political tool,” Durkan said in a statement.

King County Sheriff: ‘We failed in our duty’ when documents released to ICE

The King County Auditor’s Office recently discovered that the sheriff’s office allowed ICE to access personal information on people booked into county jails. ICE was also able to view requested case files on people in contact with the sheriff’s office. King County Ordinance 18665 prohibits this cooperation, however. A “majority” of the documents shared were arrest reports, with Sheriff Mitzi Johanknecht citing “human error” as the driving factor behind the release.

Recently, Mayor Durkan expanded the Seattle-King County Legal Defense network. It provides legal services to immigrants and refugees at risk of deportation.

Report finds King County provided info to ICE agents against county law

“We have robust protocols in Seattle because we believe every resident, regardless of their status, should be able to call 9-1-1, visit the library, or access our City’s services knowing that they are protected, and the Seattle Police Department will never participate in these politically driven, cruel immigration arrests and raids,” she said.