Seattle police say they responded earlier this week to a call from a concerned community member who believed three men were being detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents in north Seattle.
Officers were sent to the area on Jan. 7 after the call raised fears of a possible armed abduction. Police later confirmed the individuals involved were federal agents carrying out law enforcement duties. The encounter was documented after officers spoke with supervisors at the scene.
Seattle Police Chief Shon Barnes used the incident to reassure residents that local officers do not take part in immigration enforcement and are barred by state law from doing so. He said the department’s role is to keep people safe, regardless of immigration status, and to document incidents when federal agents are involved.
Diaz also urged residents to seek help from the Seattle Office of Immigrant and Refugee Affairs if needed and to call 911 in emergencies.