King County Councilmember Teresa Mosqueda has introduced an ordinance that would restrict federal authorities from using county-owned and controlled property for civil immigration enforcement. The legislation, drafted in early 2026, aims to establish "safer spaces" by preventing county land from being used as logistical hubs for operations conducted by agencies such as Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) or Customs and Border Protection (CBP).
The proposed ordinance contains several specific mandates and restrictions:
• Prohibition of Property Use: The core of the legislation states that property owned and controlled by the county, including parking lots, garages, vacant lots, and nonpublic areas of buildings, cannot be used as a staging area, processing location, or operations base for civil immigration enforcement.
• Civil vs. Criminal Enforcement: The restrictions apply specifically to civil immigration enforcement operations, which include activities like the identification, apprehension, or removal of individuals for immigration law violations. The ordinance does not restrict the execution of lawful judicial warrants, court orders, or the enforcement of criminal law.
• Physical Barriers and Signage: The county executive would be directed to design clear signage for county properties stating that the land is not to be used for immigration enforcement. Furthermore, county agencies are instructed to use physical barriers, such as locked gates, to limit access to these properties whenever appropriate and as resources allow.
• Employee Reporting Requirements: Any county employee who becomes aware of federal agents attempting to use or actually using county property for civil immigration enforcement must immediately report the incident to their department director, who will then notify the executive.
• Support for Private Property Owners: The legislation includes a "Stand Together King County" partner initiative. Under this program, the executive will provide signage templates for private businesses, nonprofits, and faith institutions to post, declaring that federal agents may not enter their premises for civil immigration enforcement without a valid judicial warrant.
Councilmember Mosqueda noted that this legislation draws from similar ordinances enacted in jurisdictions like Alameda County and San Jose. In a statement, she described the measure as a "last line of defense" for the safety of the community against federal overreach. The ordinance also specifies that it will not interfere with existing leases or concession agreements to which the county is already a party.
