Community members urge Tukwila to extend a ban on new detention centers amid concerns over ICE’s potential presence near Seattle’s airport.
TUKWILA, Wash. — Community members are urging the Tukwila City Council to extend its temporary ban on new detention centers.
The City Council approved the six-month ban in February; it was created in response to reports that Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents wanted to move into the city.
On Monday, the council held its first required public hearing on it.
Some people say they’re concerned about ICE having a presence so close to Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, where people could be placed on deportation flights.
“These folks haven’t committed crimes, they’re not derelicts. They’re trying to earn the American dream, to have a job, provide for their families and afford a house. Let them. It’s hard enough as it is.”
Many council members suggested they are in favor of extending the ban, which would take place in August.
ICE is reportedly looking at leasing space at the Riverfront Technical Park in Tukwila. The area is owned by the Sabey Corporation, which previously said the building is classified as office space and that it doesn’t plan to change that.
Joe Sabey, president of the Sabey Corportation, is also the mayor of Hunts Point, near Bellevue.
On Monday night, protesters showed up at the Hunts Point City Council meeting to speak out against ICE moving into the Tukwila Space.
Many of them addressed the mayor directly.
“I know you’ve had a lot of success, but there’s no amount of money you can pass on to your children or grandchildren that’s going to make it less awkward when people say, you know, do you have what was your family doing when this was going on?” one speaker said. “Give them a chance to say, my dad or my grandfather, he took a stand.”
“I look at this room full of white, privileged men, including the white woman in the back there,” another speaker said. “Most of you are probably born with a silver spoon in your mouth and never had to escape war and genocide.”
The mayor did not respond to any of the protesters’ comments during the meeting.
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