Seattle city council vows to fight Trump’s crackdown on illegal immigration: ‘We’re a sanctuary city, let me be clear’

"Seattle is a sanctuary city, let me be clear, that is not going to change," Democrat city councilor Maritza Rivera said during a Monday city council meeting, which was designated to address the next administration's anticipated executive orders targeting illegal migration. "Immigrant communities in the city of Seattle can rest assured that we have their back," she asserted.

The Seattle City Council, in collaboration with the Mayor's Office, Human Services, and the Office of Immigrant and Refugee Affairs, met to discuss the uncertainties surrounding the immigration measures that the incoming presidential administration is preparing to implement. This includes mass deportations, the elimination of sanctuary cities, and resuming border wall construction. During the meeting, city lawmakers and department officials examined local and state laws that are intended to safeguard the rights of undocumented migrants.

President-elect Donald Trump has vowed to pull federal funding to any city and state that has a "sanctuary" status, and Seattle said it's prepared for a potential showdown with the next Trump White House. "We are not ignorant, we know things are coming, we just don't know yet and the best thing that we can do is prepare and I feel confident we're doing that," Rivera said.

Deputy Mayor Greg Wong shared similar sentiments. He explained that Mayor Harrell issued a directive to all city agencies forbidding employees from cooperating with ICE in the case federal agents were to arrive at city buildings or other sites. Employees were directed to immediately contact the Mayor's Office, which would then contact the City Attorney's Office "to understand whether or not there is sufficient judicial authority for ICE to access whatever the request is," said Wong.

He also explained that the City of Seattle has been in contact with other sanctuary jurisdictions, both local and nationwide, to coordinate response efforts should Trump's Border Czar Tom Homan disrupt sanctuary cities with federal agents.

"We know that federal changes by their nature are federal. They’re going to be nationwide, and I think this is a really important thing to keep in mind is that Seattle does not stand alone. We will be working with our partners at the state level….And other cities across the country that are similarly situated to make sure that we are coordinated in our response efforts," Wong said. "We've already begun many of those conversations."

Additionally, local officials have been holding "Know Your Rights" trainings, which teach illegal immigrants how to avoid federal arrest if confronted by ICE agents.

Alexis Mercedes Rinck, another Democratic city councilor, expressed concerns about retaliation should the city not comply with Trump's directives, saying, "I think there's concern about retaliation towards the state of Washington and Seattle, we've seen that historically, Seattle and Washington being singled out by Donald Trump and his administration."

Officials said the city has been in frequent contact with federal lobbyists in Washington, DC, to track immigration policy changes.

City Council President Sara Nelson reiterated the city's intention to work with the state and other cities across the country to impede Trump's immigration agenda. "We have to constantly stay on our guard and we are. I feel really lucky to be in Seattle. Not every city is what Seattle is," said Rivera.

The vow of defiance comes after Trump's new Border Czar, Tom Homan, promised to jail officials who block federal authorities' efforts to address the illegal immigration epidemic in sanctuary cities and states. Washington state is among the top five sanctuary states in the nation with the highest illegal immigrant population.