Seattle committee chair calls for ICE “operational stand down”; public commenters urge legal review of federal agents
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Summary
Chair Robert Kettle urged an operational stand down of ICE in Seattle over tactics he described as unsafe; public commenters asked the council to investigate whether local law enforcement can charge federal agents and to endorse a local pro-civil-rights resolution.
Chair Robert Kettle opened the Public Safety Committee on Jan. 13 by criticizing recent federal law enforcement tactics and calling for an "operational stand down of ICE in Seattle" until federal operations undergo a policy and tactics review.
Kettle said federal officers have the authority to operate in the city but must "act responsibly" and meet the standards expected of the Seattle Police Department. "I call for an operational stand down of ICE in Seattle," he stated, urging a review of how federal agents identify themselves, whether they follow arrest protocols, and the appropriateness of high-risk tactics used in some operations.
Public comment during the hybrid hearing echoed concerns. Michael Coutts, a resident and lawyer, urged the council to investigate whether the city "can do a little more than asking ICE to follow those protocols," and to "find out what the city council can do to ensure that ICE officials committing crimes here are appropriately charged." Coutts referenced a historical federal-court decision (cited in his remarks) as an example counsel might examine.
Howard Gale, representing local activists, asked the committee to endorse a 36th District Democrats resolution and argued that many federal immigration actions lack individualized warrants or reasonable suspicion. A remote commenter, David Haines, criticized council responses as "virtue signaling" and said the city is not adequately addressing local crime, remarks that contained partisan criticism and broad assertions about nonprofit and policing priorities.
Kettle told speakers the council is coordinating with legal counsel and previous federal law enforcement work groups and said the committee will request an SPD report on federal immigration enforcement policies. He framed the committee's next steps as fact-finding and oversight rather than immediate policy changes.
The committee did not take formal action on ICE operations at the meeting. Kettle directed staff to pursue coordination with SPD and legal counsel and signaled future briefings would follow.