Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson (Credit: Katie Wilson for Seattle)
Seattle’s progressive Mayor Katie Wilson announced a series of moves Thursday that ban federal agents from using city property to conduct immigration enforcement operations and requiring the police department to investigate, verify, and document reports of enforcement activities, citing the “unpredictable, chaotic, and violent behavior” of the federal government.
Today I announced an initial set of actions to protect city residents in the face of increased federal immigration enforcement activity. #thisisyourcity pic.twitter.com/7BzGfMDpJt
— Mayor Katie B. Wilson (@MayorofSeattle) January 29, 2026
In a news release, Wilson, who was sworn in as mayor earlier this month, said she will sign an executive order prohibiting federal immigration authorities from using city-owned and city-controlled property for immigration enforcement activities.
“Whoever you are, and wherever you come from: if Seattle is your home, then this is your city,” said Wilson said in a news release announcing the move. “And it’s our responsibility as city leaders to move quickly and get organized so we can keep people safe.”
(…) Officers dispatched to reports of ICE activity will document the activity with in-car and body-worn video, as well as validate the status of federal law enforcement agents through official identification and securing scenes of potentially unlawful acts to gather evidence for prosecutors.
“I understand the concern and anxiety in the community, and I want to make sure everyone knows that the police are here to keep you safe, regardless of your immigration status,” said Seattle Police Chief Shon Barnes. “The City of Seattle is a welcoming city, and my officers will continue to abide by all laws and regulations that prohibit our participation in immigration enforcement.”
Mike Solan, president of the Seattle Police Officers Guild, the union that represents rank-and-file officers, shot down the idea of having officers pulled into the fight between local jurisdictions and the federal government.
“Toothless virtue signaling rhetoric like this has already cost two people their lives. The concept of pitting two armed law enforcement agencies against each other is ludicrous, and will not happen. I will not allow SPOG members to be used as political pawns.”
– Mike Solan,… pic.twitter.com/EuwZxVI1uw— Seattle Police Officers Guild (@SPOG1952) January 30, 2026