CB 121164 — Version 1 https://webapi.legistar.com/v1/seattle/Matters/16883/Texts/18227 CITY OF SEATTLE ORDINANCE __________________ COUNCIL BILL __________________ ..title AN ORDINANCE relating to civil immigration enforcement; prohibiting civil immigration enforcement staging on all real property that is City owned and controlled; and adding a new Chapter 14.125 to the Seattle Municipal Code. ..body WHEREAS, Executive Order 2025-08 directed the City to "develop and send to the City Council an ordinance prohibiting staging and operations of federal civil immigration enforcement activities on City property to the extent permissible by law"; and WHEREAS, The City of Seattle (City), as a first-class city, has the authority to control the use of its own property and to ensure the intended purposes of that property; and WHEREAS, state and local laws and policies prohibit City resources and personnel from being used to assist with or participate in activities that support or constitute federal civil immigration enforcement, unless otherwise required by law; and WHEREAS, the Tenth Amendment to the United States Constitution prohibits the federal government from commandeering the City's resources against the City's will related to civil immigration enforcement activities; and WHEREAS, the City is proud to be a Welcoming City, affirming its steadfast commitment to serve as a safe and supportive home for refugees and immigrants; and WHEREAS, federal immigration operations and staging on City property is inconsistent with the City's values of protecting immigrant and refugee communities; and WHEREAS, the City's laws and policies are designed to promote public safety and enhance trust between immigrant and refugee communities and their local government and local law enforcement; and WHEREAS, there is precedent for federal civil immigration enforcement activities being staged on municipal property nationwide, creating a risk that such actions could occur in Seattle; and WHEREAS, similarly situated municipalities, including the City of Chicago and Santa Clara County, California, have also taken action to limit the federal government from engaging in civil immigration enforcement at municipal facilities, including parking lots, garages, and vacant land; and WHEREAS, Executive Order 2026-03 prohibits federal authorities from using City owned and controlled property to stage civil immigration enforcement operations, to include only City parking lots, parks, plazas, vacant lots, storage facilities, garages, and the Seattle Center; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY OF SEATTLE AS FOLLOWS: Section 1. A new Chapter 14.125 is added to the Seattle Municipal Code as follows: Chapter 14.125 IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT STAGING 14.125.010 Prohibiting use of City property for immigration enforcement staging Real property that is City owned and controlled, but which does not include the public right-of-way used for pedestrian and vehicular traffic, shall not be used for civil immigration enforcement, including actions to assemble, mobilize, or deploy personnel, vehicles, or equipment for civil immigration enforcement operations, or for surveillance or logistical coordination for those operations. 14.125.020 Scope A. Nothing in this Chapter 14.125 shall be construed as restricting or interfering with the execution of lawful judicial warrants or the enforcement of criminal law, nor as limiting the rights of any person under state or federal law. B. This Chapter 14.125 does not prohibit the lawful use of real property that is City owned and controlled for purposes other than civil immigration enforcement staging, nor does it restrict any person or entity from carrying out lawful functions unrelated to that purpose on such property. 14.125.030 Injunctive relief The Seattle City Attorney's Office may seek legal or equitable relief in a court of competent jurisdiction, including injunctive relief, to enjoin any acts or practices that violate this Chapter 14.125. Section 2. Identification and signing of City properties to educate the public on staging restrictions A. For the purposes of public education only, the City should create clear signage that can be posted on a property pursuant to Seattle Municipal Code (SMC) Section 14.125.010. The lack of a sign on City owned and controlled property shall not preclude the City from seeking injunctive relief under SMC 14.125.030. B. When interpreting Seattle Municipal Code 14.125.010, and implementing signage pursuant to this section, the Seattle City Attorney's Office (CAO) is requested to work with the Department of Finance and Administrative Services (FAS) to convene departments that own or manage property to identify and sign properties, prioritizing properties near essential services like healthcare, childcare, food distribution, education or other basic support services, and for which civil immigration staging might deter individuals or families from using such services. C. By May 1, 2026, FAS and the CAO should submit to the Mayor's Office and the Council a list of properties identified using the criteria in this section. Section 3. The provisions of this ordinance are declared to be separate and severable. The invalidity of any clause, sentence, paragraph, subdivision, section, or portion of this ordinance, or the invalidity of its application to any person or circumstance, does not affect the validity of the remainder of this ordinance or the validity of its application to other persons or circumstances. Section 4. This ordinance shall take effect as provided by Seattle Municipal Code Sections 1.04.020 and 1.04.070. Passed by the City Council the ________ day of _________________________, 2026, and signed by me in open session in authentication of its passage this ________ day of _________________________, 2026. ____________________________________ President ____________ of the City Council Approved / returned unsigned / vetoed this ____day of _______________, 2026. ____________________________________ Katie B. Wilson, Mayor Filed by me this ________ day of _________________________, 2026. ____________________________________ Scheereen Dedman, City Clerk (Seal) Greg Doss MO Law Enforcement Staging ORD D1b 2 Template last revised February 19, 2025 2 Version No. 1