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Bellingham council refers resolution reaffirming commitment to immigrant and civil rights to committee
Summary
Council members voted 7-0 to send a revised draft resolution reaffirming the city's commitment to immigrant and civil rights and denouncing certain federal immigration enforcement actions to the Public Health, Safety, Justice, and Equity committee for a Feb. 23 work session; sponsors said the resolution is meant to be reaffirming and to guide future actionable responses.
The Bellingham City Council voted unanimously to refer a revised draft resolution reaffirming the city's commitment to immigrant and civil rights to the Public Health, Safety, Justice, and Equity committee for a work session and further consideration.
Council member Williams, who co-authored the draft with Council member Hamill, moved to refer the item; Council member Hamill seconded. The chair read the resolution's title as reaffirming the City of Bellingham's commitment to immigrant rights and civil rights and denouncing federal immigration enforcement actions the sponsors said endanger public safety and violate constitutional rights. The referral passed 7-0.
Williams told colleagues the draft focuses on four areas: the council's history of supporting human and civil rights; steps the city is taking and might take to resist federal enforcement actions deemed to threaten civil rights; reassurance that all municipal branches will remain aligned in protecting residents' rights; and encouraging other Whatcom County municipalities to consider similar action. Williams said the sponsors distributed a revised version of the draft and asked that feedback from members who do not serve on the committee be sent to the committee chair in advance.
Council members debated whether the resolution should be primarily a values statement or also specify concrete, actionable measures. The chair noted that the council passed a related resolution about eight months earlier and asked how the new draft differs in substance. Council member Hamill said the sponsors intended the draft to reaffirm past commitments while preserving flexibility to develop responses as events unfold; he also emphasized care not to exceed municipal authority and cited prior items referenced in the transcript as "resolution 2017 dash 10" and "ordinance 2017 dash 2 dash 0 0 8." Deputy Administrator Keller and others noted internal packet and agenda deadlines and that Feb. 23 would be used for committee work followed by the evening session for full-council consideration.
Council members were asked to submit proposed amendments in writing to the clerk and office manager before the Feb. 23 meeting to ensure motions and wording are accurately documented. The committee referral sets the next formal step; the full council will have an opportunity to debate the resolution during the evening session.
