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Woodinville council affirms local authority on immigration enforcement, removes request for prosecutor guidance
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Summary
The Woodinville City Council unanimously adopted an amended Resolution No. 681 affirming local authority to protect residents' constitutional rights and removing a clause that would have asked the King County Prosecuting Attorney for guidance on federal immigration enforcement.
The Woodinville City Council unanimously passed an amended Resolution No. 681 on Feb. 3, affirming the city’s authority to protect residents’ constitutional rights in the face of recent federal immigration enforcement actions.
The resolution, introduced by Council member Evans as the motion sponsor, originally included a section requesting public guidance from the King County Prosecuting Attorney regarding alleged unlawful federal immigration enforcement actions. Council member Edwards moved to remove the "further resolved" clause requesting that guidance and to delete an attached document; the amendment was seconded and the revised resolution was approved by roll-call vote.
"When we first added this to the agenda, the King County prosecuting attorney was evaluating what she should or could say," Council member Evans said. Evans also told the council she was heartened by the prosecutor’s public statement reaffirming commitment to prosecuting violations of constitutional rights.
At public comment, Philippa Sonnichsen, a Woodinville resident, urged the council to adopt the resolution and alleged that, based on video and reports, Department of Homeland Security agents have committed crimes and that local authorities should act where federal prosecution does not occur. "If someone commits a crime and a case can be proven beyond a reasonable doubt, they should expect to see a courtroom," Sonnichsen told the council, citing King County Prosecutor Manion.
City council members voiced support for affirming constitutional protections at the local level. After debate and the Edwards amendment, the council approved the resolution unanimously. No formal direction to staff beyond passage was recorded in the meeting minutes.
The resolution’s passage follows public concern raised to the council and public statements by the King County Prosecutor; the council elected to remove the clause seeking prosecutorial guidance while retaining the affirmation of local authority.
The amended resolution was adopted by unanimous roll-call vote; councilors recorded yes votes and no dissent was recorded. The council did not specify subsequent action steps in the public meeting record.
