Declaration: Olympia City Sanctuary

RESOLUTION NO. M-1857

A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF OLYMPIA, WASHINGTON, DECLARING THE CITY OF OLYMPIA A SANCTUARY CITY

WHEREAS, the City of Olympia is a welcoming city that serves and protects its residents regardless of their immigration status; and

WHEREAS, in the City Olympia all people, including immigrants, are respected and valued and are vital to our shared prosperity; and

WHEREAS, immigration has been a cornerstone of our city, region, state and nation’s development throughout our history; and

WHEREAS, Washington’s population grew by forty thousand (40,000) unauthorized residents between 2009 and 2014, making our state one of just six in the country with a growing unauthorized population; and

WHEREAS, Washington is the nation’s eighth largest refugee-receiving state; and

WHEREAS, an estimated one hundred thousand (100,000) Muslim residents are proud to call Washington their home and live peacefully as our neighbors, colleagues and friends; and

WHEREAS, more than twenty-eight thousand (28,000) unauthorized youth in Washington received temporary status through the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, and they deserve an opportunity to have a bright future and to contribute their time and talent to make Olympia a city of innovation and growth;

NOW, THEREFORE, THE OLYMPIA CITY COUNCIL DOES HEREBY RESOLVE AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. The City of Olympia declares itself to be a Sanctuary City and;

Section 2. As a Sanctuary City, City employees will serve all residents, and City services will be accessible to all residents regardless of immigration status; and

Section 3. The City of Olympia will not inquire upon a resident’s immigration status in providing municipal services or in the course of law enforcement; and

Section 4. As a Sanctuary City, the City of Olympia will have policies that instruct employees to refuse the application of any request from a state or federal agency that requires the identification of a resident’s immigration status, leaving that determination to federal authorities; and

Section 5. The City of Olympia shall refuse any requests that are an extension of any federal immigration policy enforcement actions to federal authorities and shall not enter into any agreements to carry out such federal enforcement actions, but leave such actions to federal authorities; and

Section 6. The City of Olympia shall review its policies to ensure that they reflect Olympia’s shtatus as a Sanctuary City, including possible revision of City policies to comply with this Resolution.

PASSED BY THE OLYMPIA CITY COUNCIL this 13th day of December 2016.
Mayor: Cheryl Selby
City Clerk: Jane Kirkemo
City Attorney: Mark Barberh