HomeMy WebLinkAboutres2026-002Whatcom County COUNTY COURTHOUSE
311 Grand Avenue, Ste #105
Bellingham, WA 98225-4038
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Agenda Bill Master Report
File Number: AB2026-049
File ID: AB2026-049 Version: 1 Status: Approved as Amended
File Created: 01/12/2026 Entered by: KSmith@co.whatcom.wa.us
Department: Council Office File Type: Resolution
Assigned to: Council Committee of the Whole Final Action: 01/13/2026
Agenda Date: 01/13/2026 Enactment#: RES 2026-002
Related Files:
Primary Contact Email: ksmith@co.whatcom.wa.us
TITLE FOR AGENDA ITEM:
Resolution affirming the dignity and civil and human rights of all Whatcom County residents, regardless
of immigration or citizenship status
SUMMARY STATEMENT OR LEGAL NOTICE LANGUAGE:
n/a
HISTORY OF LEGISLATIVE FILE
Date: Acting Body: Action: Sent To:
01/13/2026 Council Committee of the Whole FORWARDED TO COUNCIL
WITHOUT A
RECOMMENDATION
01/13/2026 Council APPROVED AS AMENDED
Aye: 5 Boyle, Buchanan, Galloway, Rienstra, and Scanlon
Nay: 2 Elenbaas, and Stremler
Attachments: Proposed Resolution, Substitute Resolution
Whatcom County Page 1 Printed on 111412026
PROPOSED BY: GALLOWAY, SCANLON
INTRODUCED: JANUARY 13, 2026
RESOLUTION NO. 2026-002
AFFIRMING THE DIGNITY AND CIVIL AND HUMAN RIGHTS OF ALL WHATCOM
COUNTY RESIDENTS, REGARDLESS OF IMMIGRATION OR CITIZENSHIP STATUS
WHEREAS, recent Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) actions across the
nation have been a source of anxiety, concern, and harm for many community members and
have raised questions about Whatcom County's role and responsibilities relating to
immigration enforcement; and
WHEREAS, Whatcom County is committed to providing a safe, inclusive, and
welcoming community that protects the dignity and human rights of all its residents,
regardless of immigration or citizenship status; and
WHEREAS, hatred, violence, and fearmongering have no place in Whatcom County;
and
WHEREAS, as a border community built by Indigenous Peoples and immigrants, from
the Peace Arch to the Arch of Healing and Reconciliation, Whatcom County is a welcoming
community to all who visit or call it home; and
WHEREAS, the Arch of Healing and Reconciliation stands in Bellingham to honor and
remember the contributions, sacrifices, and bravery of the community's immigrants and
acknowledge shameful periods in local history when anti -immigrant sentiments resulted in the
expulsion of many; and
WHEREAS, the Peace Arch, which stands on the international boundary between
Blaine, Washington and Douglas, British Columbia is a symbol of the common humanity and
friendship that exists between communities irrespective of borders; and
WHEREAS, according to a 2023 American Commun t Survey, approximately 22,000
of Whatcom County's more than 230,000 residents were born outside of the United States;
and
WHEREAS, immigrant communities bring tremendous social, economic, and cultural
value and enrichment to Whatcom County, Washington State, and the United States as a
whole; and
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WHEREAS, immigration enforcement activities have a significant disruptive and
harmful impact on families, schools, businesses, and the community at large; and
WHEREAS, immigration enforcement activities have targeted communities of color;
and
WHEREAS, aggressive federal deportation actions targeting individuals attempting to
access county services or attend court proceedings in Whatcom County and across the country
erode trust in our legal system and government more broadly; and
WHEREAS, the federal government has exclusive power over immigration enforcement
and regulation; and
WHEREAS, Washington State passed the Keep Washington Working Act _(KWWA) in
2019, restricting the extent to which local law enforcement agencies may participate in the
enforcement of federal immigration laws; and
WHEREAS, KWWA prevents all local law enforcement from:
• Asking about an individual's immigration status,
• Detaining an individual solely to determine their immigration status,
• Detaining an individual solely because of immigration status,
• Entering an agreement under 8 USC 1357 related to immigration enforcement;
and
WHEREAS, upholding KWWA ensures that federal law enforcement activities do not
interfere with local law enforcement and emergency response and that local governments can
uphold their fiduciary responsibility to manage local public resources in the best interest of the
local community; and
WHEREAS, Washington State passed the Courts Open to All (COTA) Act in 2020,
which protects individuals' access to justice by:
Prohibiting warrantless civil immigration arrests at courts,
Prohibiting court staff and prosecutors from using state and local justice
resources to report people for federal immigration enforcement, unless required
by law, necessary for an active criminal investigation, or done pursuant to valid
court order or warrant,
Requiring courts to collect data on the surveillance by immigration agents of
courthouses in Washington; and
WHEREAS, on November 24, 2020, Whatcom County Council, acting as the Health
Board, adopted Resolution 2020-054 affirming that racism is a public health crisis; and
WHEREAS, in October 2022, Whatcom County Council adopted Ordinance 2022-065
establishing the Whatcom Racial Equity Commission (WRFC) to act as a conduit for ongoing
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community collaboration, engagement, and education within the broader context of diversity
and inclusion and to gather, review, and evaluate data and make recommendations on
eliminating racial inequities, in all its forms, throughout Whatcom County; and
WHEREAS, in December 2025, the WREC published an Action Guide outlining action
steps in response to the increased presence of ICE in Whatcom County and communities
throughout the country; and
WHEREAS, the WREC Action Guide calls on city governments, county government, and
the justice system to exhaust all legal recourse to protect the county's population from
negative impacts of ICE actions.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Whatcom County Council that Whatcom
County affirms the dignity and civil and human rights of all Whatcom County residents,
regardless of immigration or citizenship status; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED by the Whatcom County Council that Whatcom County
remains committed to providing all residents with equal access to county services,
opportunities, and protections, and affirms that no county resources will be used to support
federal immigration enforcement activities, except where legally required by law or court
order; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED by the Whatcom County Council that Whatcom County
remains committed to advancing equity and racial justice through implementation of initiatives
to improve equity policies and practices, by supporting the Whatcom Racial Equity
Commission's work and implementing its recommendations, and by implementing training
programs on unconscious bias and other equity topics to improve service to county residents;
and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED by the Whatcom County Council that Whatcom County
condemns the pursuit of arrest and deportation activities on or adjacent to county property by
federal law enforcement agencies; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Whatcom County Council urges the Executive
branch to prominently post multilingual Immigrant Rights and legal resources posters and
make multilingual Know Your Rights and legal resources pamphlets readily available at county
public facilities; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED by the Whatcom County Council that Whatcom County
remains committed to ongoing compliance with the Keep Washington Working Act and the
Courts Open to All Act and encourages the County Sheriff, Prosecutor, and their staff to refrain
from coordinating or assisting Department of Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs
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Enforcement, or other relevant federal agencies on immigration or adjacent related law
enforcement activities; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED by the Whatcom County Council that Whatcom County
condemns violence perpetrated by federal law enforcement officers on members of our
community; and
BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED by the Whatcom County Council that Whatcom County
strives to cultivate a community where all individuals are free, have equal protection and are
provided due process under the law, and are safe to live their lives and pursue their personal,
familial, educational, and economic goals without fear of surveillance, harassment,
intimidation, injury, abduction, or death.
APPROVED this 1 3fihday of January , 2026
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Cathy 'Halkar, 0 k the. ,unciI u
APPROVED AS!TQ1FORM ````
Kimberly Thulin via email 1/13/2026 (KS)
Civil Deputy Prosecutor
WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL
WHATCOM COUNTY, WASHINGTON
Kaylee Ga loway, Council Chair
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