Seattle’s police union forcefully rejected an executive order from Mayor Katie Wilson directing officers to monitor and document the actions of federal immigration agents, escalating tensions between City Hall and rank-and-file law enforcement. The order targets U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations and reinforces Seattle’s long-standing sanctuary city posture. Police leaders warned the directive risks officer safety and undermines basic law enforcement priorities.
The Seattle Police Officers Guild publicly rebuked the mayor, making clear its members will not be used to interfere with federal authorities. Guild President Mike Solan said officers are not “political pawns” and criticized the order as irresponsible. He argued that placing local police in the position of scrutinizing ICE operations could create dangerous confrontations and distract from responding to crime.
Mayor Katie Wilson, a first-term mayor aligned with democratic socialist policies, issued the order shortly after taking office. The directive instructs city departments to investigate and record ICE activity within Seattle, signaling an aggressive stance against cooperation with federal immigration enforcement. Supporters frame the move as protecting immigrant communities, while critics view it as a symbolic gesture with serious consequences.
Union leaders pointed to previous violent incidents tied to immigration enforcement nationwide as evidence that poorly coordinated policies can turn deadly. They emphasized that Seattle officers already face staffing shortages and rising public safety challenges, making the mayor’s directive especially ill-timed.
The clash reflects a broader national divide over sanctuary policies and the role of local police in immigration enforcement. As progressive city leaders push ideological agendas, police unions increasingly push back, warning that politics should not override officer safety or the rule of law.
