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Bothell council to study municipal resistance to immigration enforcement after public petition

City of Bothell City Council · February 10, 2026

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Summary

Residents urged the council to adopt municipal resistance measures to limit local cooperation with federal immigration agents. Council members supported scheduling a study session and possible subcommittee for March to review options used by other Washington cities.

Tamara Wood, who submitted a letter signed by 71 community members, told the council the city should move "beyond signs and whistles" and adopt municipal-resistance policies to protect constitutional rights and due process for all residents. She proposed concrete measures including dispatching local officers to verify unmarked agents' authority, enforcing a warrant-only entry standard, prohibiting federal staging on city property and designating police and fire stations as sites of last resort where custody transfers to federal agents would not occur without a judicial warrant.

Michael Lowry, a Bothell resident, supported the petition and urged the city to prepare through community trainings, business outreach and volunteer actions. He referenced local "Know Your Rights" trainings and neighborhood organizing efforts as tools residents can use while urging the council to act.

Council member Alcabra moved to schedule a study session to examine the items raised in public comment and related options; multiple council members seconded or voiced support during the projected-agenda discussion. City staff said they would collect lessons from Seattle, Olympia and Spokane, analyze legal options and tee up possible legislative priorities. The city manager said staff would work to schedule a study session in March and that an ad-hoc or standing subcommittee could be used to vet details between full-council meetings.

The discussion produced no formal policy changes at tonight's meeting; instead, council directed staff to prepare comparative materials and legal guidance for a future study session and possible follow-up action.