The King County Sheriff’s Office (KCSO) has released new guidance outlining how deputies respond to incidents involving federal immigration enforcement, following an executive order from the King County Executive focused on protecting immigrants and refugees.
KCSO provides contracted police services to Burien and 11 other cities, serves more than 500,000 residents in unincorporated King County, and supports several regional and special jurisdictions.
The new guidance is intended to address community concerns about safety, trust and how local law enforcement interacts with federal agencies such as U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
“Ensuring the safety of people in King County is our top priority,” KCSO said. “We aim to do this based on our core values of leadership, integrity, service and teamwork.”
The document explains that sheriff’s deputies are local law enforcement officers who enforce Washington state criminal laws, respond to 911 calls and investigate crimes, but do not have authority to direct or oversee federal immigration officers.
According to police, deputies do not participate in federal civil immigration enforcement and do not honor detainer requests, also known as administrative warrants, from federal agencies unless they are signed by a judge.
The guidance also outlines how deputies respond when called to incidents involving suspected immigration enforcement activity. Deputies are instructed to assess the situation, verify law enforcement credentials when appropriate, use interpretation services if needed and document the incident through reports and body worn camera video.
Community members are advised to call 911 if there is an immediate threat to public safety, if a crime is occurring or if someone may be impersonating an officer.
The sheriff’s office said it will document the reason for the call, efforts to verify identities and the outcome of each incident, and will report any potential criminal violations by federal agents to the King County Executive’s Office and the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office.
Officials also emphasized that federal immigration officers operate independently under federal authority and are not supervised or managed by the sheriff’s office.
The guidance is currently available in English and Spanish, with additional translations planned in multiple languages to better serve King County’s diverse communities.
For more info, click here: https://kingcounty.gov/en/dept/sheriff
Video
Below is a video explainer released by KCSO:
Why not comply? I don’t get it.