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"The Olympia City Council is heartbroken and angry about the recent killing of Minnesota residents Alex Pretti and Renee Good at the hands of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) federal agents. Sadly, many others have died as well as result of this presidential administration's inhumane approach to immigration enforcement.
No family should lose a loved one this way, and no community should have to live in fear of people who are supposed to uphold the law. What we are seeing right now is deeply disturbing, and it demands accountability, transparency, and leadership from every level of government.
I am working with County Commissioner Carolina Mejia to bring together elected officials and their staff throughout Thurston County, so that local leaders are coordinated, prepared, and clear about how we protect our residents and our public employees when federal actions put our community members at risk.
I want to ensure that as a region, we do the following:
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Help everyone understand the immigration system, including our responsibilities and limitations as local governments.
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Enhance coordination and clarify communication pathways amongst the cities, Thurston County, and schools.
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Use the lessons learned from other places in the country to prevent the obstruction of emergency response efforts and the arrests or detention of public employees and preserve our ability to serve our communities.
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Prepare for scenarios involving federal actions here, with a focus on how we can respond collectively and lawfully.
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Make people aware of how to stay alert, stay safe, and report ICE activity.
If you see what appears to be an altercation or detention by a federal agent, please prioritize yours and others' safety around you. Call 911 to report suspicious behavior, and Olympia police officers will respond to the scene.
Olympia is a Sanctuary City, so our officers do not assist ICE in any of their efforts to detain anyone in our community. Our officers will work to verify whether those involved are legitimate agents and maintain order and safety in the area. You have the right to film the police or ICE agents in a public space, without physically impeding officers. The safety of every one of our community members remains our top priority.
In addition to taking local action and providing you information with how to stay safe, this Council supports Governor Ferguson's and Attorney General Brown's proposed actions to be prepared should the federal government increase its presence here in Thurston County.
Our community deserves to feel safe, respected, and heard, and these actions are steps we can take within our local control to build the knowledge, coordination, and accountability needed to serve and protect everyone."
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