by David Mendez

Two weeks ago, dozens of Shoreline residents made their way to City Council chambers, urging elected leaders to stand up against federal immigration arrests within the city.

Now, on Monday night, the council is set to follow up with a resolution speaking to the city’s “role and responsibilities as they relate to immigration enforcement.” While the resolution is mostly written to support bills at the state legislature and policy development by the county sheriff’s office, it also seeks to keep federal immigration agents from using city property.

Resolution 560 was put on this week’s agenda by Councilmember Keith Scully and Deputy Mayor Eben Pobee in response to the concerns that residents raised at the Feb. 9 meeting. Its stated goal is to affirm the city’s “commitment to Shoreline being an Inviting, Equitable and Safe Community for All,” as well as to officially support legislative bills and decisions already made by King County.

Notably, the resolution would direct the City Manager’s office to develop rules banning federal immigration agents from using city-owned and city-controlled properties to stage for civil immigration enforcement actions, unless authorized by a court order or judicial warrant. This follows Seattle’s lead; on Jan. 29, Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson issued an executive order that, in part, bans federal agents from staging their operations on city property.

The resolution would throw official city support behind bills that prevent law enforcement from wearing masks while performing their duties, that protect the privacy of student financial aid information and that support immigrant workers. It would also officially support King County Executive Girmay Zahilay’s directive ordering the King County Sheriff’s Office to develop policies for responding to 911 calls alleging illegal conduct by federal immigration agents. KCSO has contractually provided police services to Shoreline since the city was established in 1995.

But the city staff report also outlines what the resolution can’t, and won’t, do.

Per the staff report, the Shoreline Police Department will not be directed to “investigate, verify and document” immigration enforcement activity in the city. The Shoreline Police Department is provided through a contract between the city and the King County Sheriff’s Office. City staff has reached out to KCSO to understand its “operational stance” on investigating federal agent activity, but says that the city “cannot direct what the stance will be.” Per Shoreline’s contract with KCSO, the city must negotiate any policies that differ from KCSO’s policies.

But the sheriff’s office has taken a hands-off approach on federal immigration enforcement. In a statement to the City of Maple Valley — another KCSO police service contract city — King County Sheriff Patti Cole-Tindall said that KCSO is “legally prevented from obstructing or impeding on immigration enforcement operations.” According to KCSO’s general orders manual, officers are not permitted to “engage or assist in civil immigration enforcement operations.”

The resolution report also said that residents asked that Shoreline Police "should follow the City of Denver, Colorado’s lead” in intervening with and arresting federal agents who use excessive, illegal force during arrests. Staff said it could find no policy directives by the City of Denver instructing officer intervention. However, Denver’s police chief said that his officers are expected to jump in if they see federal officers using excessive force.

Staff also took care to note that the resolution “does not direct the city to commit funds to organizations engaged in immigrant legal defense, community support and the long-term needs of immigrant communities,” akin to the Seattle executive order.

Monday night’s meeting of the Shoreline City Council takes place at 7 p.m., at Shoreline City Hall, 17500 Midvale Ave. N.