Council considers a motion urging county action on deportation flights; fuller debate set for February

Julie Brown presented a motion dated Jan. 15 asking the council to "urgently appeal to the King County executive to exercise his authority seeking support at the state level as necessary to bar Department of Homeland Security agents in immigration and customs enforcement (ICE) from conducting illegal deportation flights through King County International Airport (Boeing Field)."

Brown said the motion was prompted by recent protests and local concern about impacts on immigrant residents. Council members and the county representative discussed whether the council has authority to influence operations at Boeing Field, historical county efforts and a court ruling referenced by Chris Lampkin indicating legal limits on the county’s ability to bar ICE flights. Lampkin nevertheless said symbolic resolutions can be important and noted past county advocacy and legal work; he encouraged the council to proceed if members felt it would serve constituents.

The chair clarified that substantive debate and a formal vote will take place at the February meeting; members asked for contextual material and a possible letter from Councilmember Mosqueda’s office to explain legal implications. The VMCC agreed to include the motion on the February agenda and to invite related informational materials before taking a formal vote.