Kent mayor and police chief say city will not make immigration status a basis for local enforcement; urge victims to call 911

Mayor Dana Ralph and Kent Police Chief Rafael Padilla held a video briefing to address recent federal executive orders on immigration and to reassure residents that the City of Kent and the Kent Police Department will continue to provide services regardless of immigration status.

"For decades as a city, as a police department, we have served all of our residents without regard to immigration status," Mayor Dana Ralph said, adding that the goal of the briefing was to correct misinformation and reduce fear in the community.

The city’s statement centered on state law and departmental policy. "Your immigration status in the city of Kent is not our concern, and we don't take enforcement action on it," Chief Rafael Padilla said, noting that Kent Police Department (KPD) policy follows state law. He summarized key limits under state law, including a prohibition on officers inquiring into or collecting information about an individual's immigration or citizenship status for most purposes and limits on providing nonpublic personal information to federal immigration authorities. The chief cited the Revised Code of Washington and excerpts he said were most pertinent to residents.

Why it matters: The briefing came after new federal executive orders that, according to city leaders, had raised fear and misinformation in the community. City officials said clarifying how state law and local policy intersect with federal enforcement was intended to reassure residents and ensure they continue to report crimes and use emergency services.

Details from the briefing

State law and KPD policy: Padilla said the department’s policy mirrors state law and has been in place for years. He said the policy’s origins date to 2016 and were modified again around 2018 after state statutory changes. He summarized provisions saying officers may not inquire into or collect information about immigration or citizenship status in routine contacts, and that agencies may not proactively provide nonpublic personal information to federal immigration authorities in noncriminal matters. He also said an individual may not be detained solely for determining immigration status.

Assistance to federal authorities: Both officials said KPD will not run immigration enforcement operations but will continue limited cooperation with federal law enforcement for serious criminal matters. "There will be instances where the federal immigration authorities will want to come in and remove violent criminals," Padilla said, adding that such actions normally involve a federal warrant or a criminal matter. He described KPD’s usual role as a "visible presence" to lend safety and trust during joint operations and said the department is working to strengthen coordination so operations cause as little undue harm to the community as possible.

911 and reporting guidance: The chief advised residents not to call 911 to report someone’s immigration status because KPD generally cannot act on that information and cannot pass it to federal immigration authorities. "While you could make that call and we will get that information, we won't be able to act upon it," Padilla said, urging callers to preserve 911 capacity for emergencies. He made a parallel point for victims of crime: "If you are, say, a victim of domestic violence...they cannot act upon that. Their job there is to help figure out what happened, provide services to the victim, arrest the offender if they're able to," and he explicitly said victims should call 911 regardless of immigration status.

Discipline and training: Padilla said all officers have received training on the relevant law and department policy, that a refresher training was underway, and that violations would be handled through the department’s internal affairs process. "Officers can look at anything from, reprimand all the way up to termination depending on what occurs," he said, and noted discipline decisions follow department policy and the union contract.

Limitations and cautions from city legal counsel: Padilla said he had consulted City Attorney Tammy White and that, under her guidance, the federal government cannot force local police to perform civil immigration enforcement. He said he checked that the executive order did not change the department’s obligation under state law.

What the city did not say or decide

No new enforcement program was announced. Officials said the department will not establish proactive local immigration enforcement. There were no motions, votes, or formal policy changes recorded in the briefing.

Context and next steps

Ralph closed by reiterating the city's long-standing commitment: "It is 100% our mission, our goal, and how we have always acted to take care of every resident of the city of Kent regardless of immigration status, regardless of documentation." Officials said they will continue trainings and communication with community partners and federal authorities to reduce harm when joint operations occur.