Seattle police chief: Officers will not question residents about immigration status

New Seattle Police Chief Shon Barnes is making it clear to city residents who are immigrants that police officers will not be asking about immigration status.

Barnes said he wanted to address head-on any concerns from community members regarding the position of the Seattle Police Department on immigration “in the wake of recent news and events.”

“Throughout my career in policing and as your new Seattle police chief, I have unwaveringly supported the rights of undocumented people, who are vulnerable, too often victimized and exploited, and may not feel safe coming forward when they are victims of crime,” Barnes said in a statement on Wednesday.

The recent events Barnes may be alluding to are a string of arrests of illegal immigrants in Seattle deemed to “have or continue to pose a threat to public safety" by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

This month alone, there were three arrests in Seattle by ICE agents Seattle agents, including a Chinese national with convictions for drug manufacturing; a citizen of El Salvador, who was previously arrested for commercial sex abuse of a minor; and a Kazakhstan national illegally residing in the U.S. who is “considered to be a threat to public safety,” according to a news release from ICE.

Barnes clarified that SPD’s policies regarding immigration status will not change and that immigration law and enforcement is exclusively the responsibility of the federal government – that is, ICE is left alone to conduct searches and arrests of illegal immigrants.

This is similar to what Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell’s Office previously told The Center Square.

Earlier this month, President Donald Trump declared a national emergency at the northern border, as previously reported by The Center Square.

SPD is urging victims and crime witnesses to engage with police officers without the fear that they will be asked any questions regarding their immigration status.

“When people are afraid to report, crimes go unaddressed, communities become vulnerable, and more people are victimized,” Barnes said. “We cannot let that happen in Seattle.”