Spokane City Council could restrict federal immigration enforcement

Ariana Lake by Ariana Lake

There’s new attention focused on how and where the U.S. Border Patrol and other immigration agencies do their work in Spokane.

The Spokane City Council is considering a new policy that would create more requirements for things like searches and detainment on some city properties.

The ordinance text reveals it would establish the mayor as the only official that can grant access/consent to an agency or person who wants to conduct federal civil immigration enforcement operations in non-public/restricted areas of the City of Spokane property. Those areas could include any area of a city facility or property the general public can’t access, like parts of the Spokane Intermodal Facility.

The City of Spokane cites an article by the Spokesman review saying that since 2013, U.S. Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) agents have apprehended about 200 people at the Spokane Intermodal Facility. The agency claimed they were “routine immigration check operations of all passengers at the terminal.”

Spokane resident David Brookbank said he’s been there multiple times when agents boarded the buses and asked passengers for proof of their identity. He shared some photos he took of the incidents with KXLY from August 2018.

“As a citizen in a free country, I decided I should take pictures,” Brookbank said.

Searches like these have been happening for years without warrants. That’s possible because Spokane is within 100 miles of international border. Agents have picked up criminals on these buses, but they’ve also received criticism for detaining people who have done nothing illegal.

“I’m concerned for them that proper procedure be followed and that people are not subjected to use of force or deceptive practices,” Brookbank said.

Brookbank isn’t alone in his worries.

In a letter this year to Spokane Mayor David Condon and the Spokane City Council, community organizations, including World Relief Spokane, requested city leaders create and enact policies that ensure people living or visiting Spokane don’t travel in fear of interrogation by federal immigration authorities.

World Relief Spokane Director Mark Finney said he’s glad to be able to join this growing conversation.

“It’s important to us to see the city stepping up to make sure that everyone’s rights are protected and that there are clear boundaries,” Finney said.

Finney went on to say that he completely supports the work that state, local and federal officials do to keep Spokane safe, but this issue at the Spokane Intermodal Center needs to be addressed.

“This isn’t part of a huge trend to try ans shift our city one direction or another related to big issues of immigration,” Finney said. “It’s an opportunity for us to help our city define the parameters of our own local law enforcement.”

The ordinance goes on to state that City of Spokane employees and agents of the City of Spokane would need a judicial warrant prior to any agency or person conducting federal civil immigration enforcement operations in non-public/restricted areas of City of Spokane property.

Federal law already requires Department of Homeland Security employees involved in immigration enforcement operations to have a warrant or consent of the building owner to enter non-public areas of facilities.

The City of Spokane recently ended plans to establish an integrated social services center at the Spokane Intermodal Facility over concerns of CBP presence there. Some people worried agent operations there would have a detrimental impact on the city’s ability to offer social services there.

According to a city report, they will have to lease another building for that integrated service center, which will cost tax payers about $250,000.

The first reading of this ordinance is Monday at the regular council meeting. That starts at 6 p.m. Public testimony will be taken. A vote is expected October 22.

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