The Seattle City Council has approved a measure removing outdated language that allowed police to ask about a person’s immigration status under certain conditions.
The legislation, introduced by Councilmember Eddie Lin, aligns city code with the Keep Washington Working Act, which generally bars local law enforcement from collecting citizenship information unless tied to a criminal investigation.
“This law simply cleans up our City Code to better align with our Seattle values,” said Lin. “By doing this work, we are not only looking to protect our neighbors but also help diverse communities feel comfortable building a relationship with local law enforcement.”
The change eliminates a 2003 provision based on a “reasonable suspicion” standard and formally codifies existing Seattle Police Department policy limiting such inquiries.
The bill now heads to the mayor for consideration.
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