(The Center Square) – With a federal crackdown underway, the Spokane City Council fast-tracked a vote Monday to reaffirm state law restricting how much local law enforcement can participate with immigration authorities.
The approval followed a last-minute decision to amend Monday’s agenda just hours before the meeting. Originally set for Feb. 24, the progressive majority moved the vote up amid speculation over local enforcement.
Hundreds of people flocked to the Spokane City Hall to show their support and opposition, with dozens testifying. After only a few minutes, a fire marshal had the officials pause to direct some people to leave, or the council would have to take the meeting elsewhere.
“Opponents of this resolution will say that [it] doesn’t accomplish anything,” Councilmember Zack Zappone said Monday. “Well, this resolution affirms the city of Spokane’s commitment to the Keep Washington Working Act, which is state law.”
The Legislature passed the KWWA in 2019 to protect its highly reliant immigrant workforce.
According to the law, nearly a million immigrants lived in the state in 2019, roughly one out of every seven people. They comprised 16% of the workforce and 15% of all business owners.
Monday’s resolution is nonbinding, so it didn’t change the law. Instead, it made a statement. While many residents testified in support of that statement, others spoke out against it, noting the potential impact on Spokane’s federal funding as government officials observe from afar.
“ICE doesn’t care about our resolution,” Councilmember Michael Cathcart said of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. “In fact, they might think the opposite.”
Cathcart worries about creating an “air of fear” around immigration enforcement. He said the resolution puts local immigrants and refugees at risk rather than protecting their rights. It shines a spotlight on Spokane weeks before the council’s originally scheduled vote.
He and Councilmember Jonathan Bingle argued that voting on Feb. 24 would have allowed for more testimony. While hundreds flooded city hall on Monday, residents have been waiting for this for weeks.
Several supporters cited fears amid instances of legal and illegal, or undocumented, immigrants being stopped or detained. Many spoke on their family’s journey to citizenship and the hardships along the way, adding that an undocumented status shouldn’t cement you as a criminal.
However, those in opposition called for respect around the rule of law, including illegal border crossing. While the resolution doesn’t mention the word “sanctuary,” many said the resolution paints Spokane as just that.
“The pain and fear that this is causing in Spokane is legitimate,” Councilmember Paul Dillon said before pulling out a memo from the U.S. Department of Justice. “And, of course, there’s been some discussion about a federal funding freeze we got, and this has been published nationally.”
Dillon held a memo stating that any jurisdictions that “unlawfully interfere with federal law enforcement operations” should not receive any DOJ grants or funding. He called it “an empty scare tactic” after tearing up the document titled “Sanctuary Jurisdiction Directives” for all to see.
Mayor Lisa Brown recently told the council that President Donald Trump’s executive orders put $48 million at risk for the city and its partners. A portion of that includes federal funding for World Relief and International Rescue Committee, two organizations that resettle immigrants in Spokane.
Council Policy Advisor Christopher Wright said Monday’s resolution underwent a thorough legal analysis, which will continue, but “the bottom line is” it complies with state and federal law.
“Sanctuary city is not a legal term,” Wright said. “I don’t think there’s any agreement about what it means, and for that reason, this resolution stays away from that term and talks simply about what the law is and what our aspirations are with regard to immigration enforcement.”
