NCW Leadership Institute alumni ask Wenatchee council to press for removal of ICE from City Hall after proclamation

WENATCHEE, Wash. — Graduates and representatives of the North Central Washington (NCW) Leadership Institute applauded the City Council’s proclamation recognizing the program and urged the council to act to make City Hall a safer, more welcoming place by advocating for removal of an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) office housed in the building’s basement.

The Leadership Institute, whose first graduates the council proclaimed “Leadership Institute of NCW Day” for Feb. 27, 2025, said in a written statement presented to the council that the ICE office creates an environment that “feels unwelcoming and unsafe” for immigrant residents and leaders, and asked the council to “strongly advocate for the removal of ICE from the building or if necessary, consider relocating City Hall to a more accessible and inclusive location.” The letter was presented to the council during the public-comment portion of the meeting.

Why it matters: Council members and presenters said the presence of a federal immigration office in the same public building where residents pay utility bills, request permits and bring children to the indoor playground has real effects on whether immigrant families feel safe accessing city services. The Leadership Institute alumni said many cohort members chose not to attend the meeting in solidarity with peers who felt unsafe.

Program recognition and leaders’ plea Julia Summer, representing the Leadership Institute partners, thanked the council for the proclamation and said the program was developed with curriculum from the national Parent Leadership Training Institute and with the support of more than two dozen organizations, including the Community Foundation of North Central Washington and Our Valley, Our Future. Two community leaders, identified to the council as Lisonbee Padlick and Stacy Willoughby, also addressed the council.

A written letter from the Institute’s first cohort — read aloud at the meeting — said the city’s 2017 welcoming-resolution commitment (passed April 28, 2017) should be honored by ensuring City Hall is accessible and feels safe for all residents. The letter noted that ICE’s lease is with a private landlord, Locatell, but asked the council to take action as elected representatives to protect residents’ ability to use city services without fear.

Mayor response and council discussion Mayor Mike Poyer acknowledged the concerns and said the city is “trying to figure out what we can do, which is maybe not a lot,” noting that the federal government controls ICE operations. He said city staff are attempting small changes to reduce fear for residents who interact with City Hall: for example, billing staff have been asked to proactively offer help to callers and visitors who may be hesitant to come in. “We’re trying little things,” the mayor said.

The mayor and council did not commit to a specific legal strategy or ordinance at the meeting. Presenters urged the council to press the building owner and other partners to remove ICE from the shared building or, if necessary, consider relocation options for City Hall.

What the Leadership Institute asked for The alumni asked the council to: - Advocate for removal of ICE from the City Hall building or consider relocating City Hall if removal is not feasible; and - Honor the city’s 2017 welcoming resolution by taking steps to make City Hall accessible and safe for immigrant residents.

No formal council action on the ICE office was taken at the meeting. The council did adopt a ceremonial proclamation recognizing the Leadership Institute’s graduating class and the mayor affixed the city seal to the proclamation during the meeting.

Meeting context The remarks came during the public-comment and proclamation portion of the Feb. 27, 2025, Wenatchee City Council meeting. Several institute members were handling graduation activities and left the meeting early; presenters noted some cohort members chose not to attend in solidarity with those who feel unsafe because of the ICE office.

Ending Council members thanked the presenters for their leadership and for bringing forward the letter. No ordinance or formal directive was adopted at the meeting; council members indicated staff would continue to look for ways to make City Hall services more accessible to immigrant residents and to coordinate internally on communication and front‑desk procedures.