SEATTLE — The Seattle City Council unanimously voted to block federal immigration officials from accessing automated license plate reader and CCTV data and to amend when a 60-day pause on surveillance data collection can be triggered.
The council’s Public Safety Committee approved an ordinance March 24 that would prevent Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or ICE, agents from accessing the data. The move amends city ordinances 127044, which governs license plate reader data, and 127297, which requires a 60-day pause of CCTV data collection if the city or its vendor receives a warrant, subpoena or court order for Seattle CCTV data in a federal civil immigration enforcement matter, or if Seattle CCTV data is released pursuant to law for use in such a matter.
Under the changes, ICE would be blocked from accessing data from Seattle’s license plate readers. Additionally, the ordinance would allow city officials, including Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson, to trigger the 60-day pause if data is accessed or a “credible risk” is detected.
The move follows similar actions by city and state officials to limit federal immigration enforcement across the region.
In June 2024, the city authorized the Seattle Police Department to install cameras on all patrol cars that automatically scan and record vehicle license plates.
Addressing the ordinance, Seattle City Councilmember Alexis Mercedes Rinck said multiple communities have raised concerns about the readers.
“I know we all agree that we do not want data that is collected through license plate reader data to be used against our residents for immigration action, reproductive health care or gender-affirming care,” Rinck said. “That is not the intended use of this technology, but these have been concerns raised by the ACLU and a number of impacted communities.”
According to the ordinance, time-stamped location data from license plate readers and CCTV systems can reveal sensitive movement patterns, including attempts to obtain reproductive health services or gender-affirming care. The data also can show visits to workplaces, schools, religious institutions and other locations.
Washington lawmakers and Seattle City Council members have expressed concern that license plate and street camera data are being used nationwide to support mass deportation efforts.
KING 5’s Farah Jadran contributed to this report.
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