Last week, Seattle and King County leaders announced coordinated emergency legislation aimed at preventing the expansion of Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention facilities in the region following potential federal action.
Seattle City Councilmember Alexis Mercedes Rinck, King County Councilmember Teresa Mosqueda, Port of Seattle Commissioner Toshiko Hasegawa and SeaTac Deputy Mayor Senayet Negusse said the measures respond to potential moves by the Department of Homeland Security to increase ICE detention centers in Seattle and broader King County. The announcement comes amid concerns about documented human rights violations at existing facilities, including the Northwest Detention Center in Tacoma.
“We cannot make it clear enough, the human rights violations at facilities like the Northwest Detention Center are unacceptable, and we refuse to stand by while the federal government continues their inhumane practices. We do not want this in Seattle, we do not want this in our county, we do not want this in our Ports. This is a clear message to the federal government: We want ICE out of our communities. We will not assist in facilitating this cruel, inhumane, and lawless agenda,” Rinck.
In July 2025, President Donald Trump signed legislation providing $170 billion in additional funding for immigration enforcement activities to DHS, including ICE, Customs and Border Protection and the Department of Defense. Of that total, $45 billion is dedicated to detention center expansion. The legislation has been referred to as the “One Big Betrayal Bill Act.”
In December 2025, DHS and ICE issued a pre solicitation notice related to possible federal funding for immigration detention facilities in the Seattle and King County area. Nationally, DHS has purchased commercial warehouses in states including Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina and Pennsylvania to create temporary detention centers.
Local leaders cited research from the Center for Human Rights at the University of Washington and the Seattle University School of Law documenting ongoing human rights concerns. Politico reported that ICE has continued to defy judges’ orders to release detainees in some cases. Officials said additional detention facilities would worsen what they described as unlawful detentions and prolonged confinement.
“As the federal administration wreaks violence and fear across the country, in King County, we are working together to create greater stability and safeguards for our own communities,” said Mosqueda. “Councilmember Rinck’s legislation prohibiting all new and expanded jails and detention centers, paired with legislation I introduced yesterday blocking federal immigration enforcement on County property, and proactive protections from our partners at the Port, SeaTac, and jurisdictions across the region show that we are a united front against the chaos and cruelty we are seeing from this administration. In the spirit of our regional partnership, I have also initiated an ordinance to expand the prohibition on new detention facilities to unincorporated King County, and we will continue working together to increase protections for all of our communities.”
Rinck’s legislation would impose interim regulations for 365 days prohibiting new and expanded jails and detention centers within Seattle. The proposal would also declare a state of emergency and require a public hearing within 60 days of adoption if passed.
Mosqueda introduced county legislation Feb. 12 to block the use of county property for immigration enforcement actions. The proposal directs additional executive actions to strengthen the county’s response to ICE and Customs and Border Protection surges and advances a moratorium on detention facilities in unincorporated King County.
“The Port of Seattle exists to connect people and goods – not to separate families or facilitate deportation,” said Hasegawa. “Our facilities should never be used as tools for unjust immigration enforcement, and this Order
reinforces that we cannot actively assist ICE in actions that undermine human rights and community trust by serving as a landlord for a future detention facility. Prohibiting a detention facility at Port properties is an affirmation of our commitment to equity, transparency, and the fundamental principle that our role is to serve and welcome – not to expel.”
At the Port Commission’s regular meeting Feb. 24, Hasegawa plans to introduce an order establishing guidelines to prevent Port resources and properties from being used for civil immigration detention or enforcement staging operations. The order would prohibit converting nonpublic Port properties for new or expanded detention or immigration enforcement support uses.
SeaTac officials also approved a temporary moratorium this week on establishing or expanding detention facilities within city limits. SeaTac already hosts a federal detention facility. City officials said the pause will allow time to evaluate impacts on public safety, infrastructure, emergency response capacity and community well being.
“I believe in public safety, human dignity, and responsible land use. Expanding detention infrastructure does not strengthen our city, it strains our neighborhoods, our resources, and the trust we work every day to build. I will not assist in separating families and spreading fear in our communities,” said Negusse.
Councilmember Rinck’s emergency legislation is scheduled for a potential vote Feb. 24. Other jurisdictions are expected to consider their proposals in the coming weeks as regional leaders continue coordinating their response.
