San Juan County responds to recent ICE actions in the islands

The San Juan County Council and Sheriff are jointly responding to recent Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) actions taken in San Juan County. These raids have generated fear within our community and fostered uncertainty as to what local officials can do.

During the July 15 Council meeting, the County Council reaffirmed that our local government does not participate in immigration enforcement and clarified that they are not permitted to interfere with federal investigations. Neither the County Councilmembers nor the Sheriff have authority over ICE. ICE has no obligation to inform local officials of their movements and activities or to provide signed warrants, notification of their presence, or any other documentation. The San Juan County government remains steadfast in providing and making accessible services to all of our community members regardless of immigration status.

The Council is committed to upholding the values of Ordinance 09-2017 which protects the legal rights of all County residents, as well as our County Charter – including the non-discrimination clause adopted in 2021 that states “…the county shall ensure that no person is discriminated against… in the treatment of residents and visitors in the provision of government services on account of sex, race, color, national origin, religious affiliation, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression…”

Sheriff’s Office Protocol  

“The San Juan County Sheriff’s Office is saddened that the current state of affairs in our country regarding immigration is tenuous at best and extremely stressful for many people and families,” said Sheriff Peter. “We empathize with the individuals and families involved and for the fear and uncertainty this is causing many people in our country and in our San Juan County community.”

As it relates to the Sheriff’s Office, the mission of the Office is to safeguard everyone in our community – no matter their citizenship status. SJCSO does not ask about, collect, or keep information about the immigration status of anyone they serve. The fear caused by last week’s events can deter victims and witnesses of crimes from coming forward, which jeopardizes everyone’s safety. SJCSO has worked hard to foster trust and cooperation with our community and is committed to continuing to foster trust and serving every member of our community.

Several state laws prevent the Sheriff’s Office from engaging in immigration enforcement work, including the ‘Keep Washington Working Act’ which prohibits local law enforcement from questioning about immigration status, notifying ICE that a noncitizen is in custody, and detaining someone for civil immigration enforcement.

There are four levels of law enforcement – federal, state, County, and municipal, having their own individual authorities, hierarchies, and internal mechanisms for oversight. For more information visit: RCW 10.93.160: Immigration and citizenship status—Law enforcement agency restrictions.

Per the San Juan County Sheriff’s Office, the following are a few procedures that guide local response to ICE presence:

• ICE doesn’t have to contact local law enforcement and won’t contact local law enforcement when they are coming on island.
• The Sheriff’s Office is prohibited from and does not participate in immigration enforcement RCW 10.93.160.
• The Sheriff’s Office has no authority to interfere or hinder other law enforcement agencies’ investigations.
• The Sheriff’s Office will take any information at face value and will do due diligence to try and confirm the information before issuing any statements.

While many immigration violations are handled through civil proceedings, some are also criminal offenses, and civil violations can sometimes lead to criminal prosecution.

“The immigration issue is a sensitive topic, and I hope that one day there can be a commonsense approach to this divisive issue that unfortunately negatively affects and strikes fear into so many people,” said Sheriff Peter.

Immigration and Confidentiality within San Juan County Government 

All County departments are expected to provide services to all of our residents, without requiring proof of immigration status, except in legally required circumstances, such as the instances listed below.

• Medicaid funded programs require a Social Security Number.
• For vehicle and vessel licensing, a driver’s license is required for identification and WA DLN must be linked to newly titled vehicles. For part-time residents, we can accept out-of-state or out-of-country IDs if we can interpret the information accurately.
• For marriage licenses, the Department of Health application only has two options for ‘sex’; however, it may be left blank on request. Applicants must provide birthplace of both parents. Identification is required to notarize the application.
• For elections, a voter must sign a declaration regarding their citizenship status and provide identification (SSN or WA DLN).
• For notaries: identification is required.
• In the Clerk’s Office for passport applications, proof of citizenship is and has always been required (most commonly birth certificate or prior passport) See www.travel.state.gov for other documents that prove citizenship.

In addition, County staff have received instructions on how to respond if ICE agents come into a County facility. Protocol includes alerting leadership and legal counsel and asking for warrants before allowing access to back offices.

The County also is utilizing resources developed by the local Resource Centers, including ‘Know Your Rights’ cards, which are available at public service counters. Those cards and additional resources may also be located at the various Resource Centers across the islands. 

As a government and a community, we are committed to supporting the people we serve.

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