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Council directs staff to return immigrant-safety resolution after public support
Summary
Following public testimony and council discussion, Bothell council instructed staff to bring a draft immigrant-protection resolution back for consideration Dec. 2 after members expressed concern about recent immigration enforcement activity and a desire to reassure immigrant residents.
Council members on Nov. 18 agreed to bring forward a draft resolution affirming support for immigrant residents after multiple public commenters urged action and council members voiced support.
Several members of the public, including Cathy Ferboche and Carol Sullivan, spoke in favor of a resolution that would communicate protections and encourage businesses, schools and organizations to share information about residents' rights. Ferboche said the effort included outreach to local businesses to explain legal rights during encounters with law enforcement.
Deputy mayor raised concerns about recent immigration enforcement activity near neighboring communities and cited reports that data from third-party automatic license-plate readers has been accessed by federal immigration authorities, stressing the need to reassure affected residents. Council members Redondo, Aldrichs and Kurt all voiced support for drafting a resolution; staff said a draft would be prepared for the Dec. 2 meeting and, if satisfactory, placed on the agenda for a possible vote.
The discussion did not adopt policy at the Nov. 18 meeting; it directed staff to return a draft resolution, noting Washington state law and the police department's existing tech-use policies provide baseline protections but that greater public awareness is needed.
Outcome: Direction to staff to prepare a resolution for Dec. 2; no vote on a substantive resolution on Nov. 18.
