SEATTLE — Seattle and King County today doubled down on defiance of the Trump administration’s demand to cease being sanctuary jurisdictions.
In recent months, the federal government has stepped up immigration raids.
President Trump has threatened to withhold money from sanctuary jurisdictions like Seattle and King County because they don't routinely help the feds track undocumented immigrants.
>> See a timeline of the "sanctuary cities" conversation in Seattle and King County.
“People have to remember these are people's lives, you have young children who return home and their parents have been taken, or you have people who are looking over their shoulder every day wondering whether the trip to the grocery store can be safe and what we are saying to people we will keep you safe,” Mayor Durkan said.
Seattle and King County believe they can get around the Trump administration by simply not asking for immigration status in the first place.
“If you don't collect information, you can't be required to give it,” said Durkan.
President Trump says his immigration policies protect Americans from criminals.
Seattle and King County are risking at least $600,000 in federal money.
“I know this is right because it's the values of not only myself, but of the entire community, the people who live here, the people who want to work together as a community and not be tainted by fear,” said King County Council Chair Joe McDermott
Asked how she would justify Seattle being a sanctuary city if an undocumented immigrant committed a serious crime, Durkan responded, “Our city is a welcoming city and all the policies we have do not impede public safety one bit.”
“This just not a legal battle, this really is about that core fundamental thing about that human right to have freedom, to have hope and to have opportunity and Seattle will always stand for that,” the Mayor said.
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