Seattle Mayor Katie B. Wilson has announced an initial set of actions to protect city residents in the face of increased federal immigration enforcement activity, the mayor's office said in a city release. The City said it currently has no information indicating a surge of ICE and U.S. Customs and Border Protection activity in Seattle, but that there has been increased activity over the last year and preparation is critical.

At the centre of the package is an executive order, to be issued immediately, prohibiting civil federal immigration authorities from using property that is both city-owned and city-controlled for civil immigration enforcement activities. The release lists City parks, parking lots, plazas, vacant lots, storage facilities, garages and the Seattle Center. The mayor urged the Seattle School District, Seattle Municipal Court and other local government bodies to take similar action.

The mayor will also require the Seattle Police Department to investigate, verify and document any reports of immigration enforcement activity, according to the release. Officers dispatched to a location where apparent immigration enforcement activity is underway will document it with in-car and body-worn video, validate the status of apparent federal agents through official identification, and secure scenes of potentially unlawful acts to gather evidence for transmittal to prosecutors.

"I understand the concern and anxiety in the community, and I want to make sure everyone knows that the police are here to keep you safe, regardless of your immigration status," Seattle Police Chief Shon Barnes said in the release. Barnes said his officers will continue to abide by laws that prohibit their participation in immigration enforcement, noted that the department has no authority over federal agents or federal policies, and said officers will document incidents if and when notified. "The Seattle Police Department's primary responsibility is the life safety of ALL people," he said.

The City will also quickly invest $4 million (yaani 40 lakh dollars) in organisations engaged in immigrant legal defence, community support and the long-term needs of immigrant communities, money the release said was appropriated by City Council late last year. A new Stand Together Seattle Initiative invites private property owners to post notices clarifying that their property may not be accessed by federal agents without a warrant. City departments will share information about enforcement activity with a hotline operated by a trusted community-led partner, all city employees will receive updated training on how to report and respond to enforcement activity, and departments must conduct a privacy review aimed at limiting potential data exposure, including data-sharing agreements in vendor contracts.

"Whoever you are, and wherever you come from: if Seattle is your home, then this is your city," Wilson said. She pointed to the news out of Minneapolis, saying she was disturbed by reports of a spike in hotline calls there from families afraid to leave their homes and go to work. City Attorney Erika Evans said, "Seattle stands with Minnesota," and Public Safety Chair Bob Kettle called the killings by federal law enforcement in Minneapolis "absolutely unacceptable" — both characterisations are the city officials' own, stated in the release.

The White House pushed back in response reported by Fox News. "ICE officers are facing a 1300% increase in assaults because of dangerous, untrue smears by elected Democrats," White House spokesperson Abigail Jackson told Fox News Digital, according to Fox News reporting. "ICE officers act heroically to enforce the law and protect American communities and local officials should work with them, not against them," she added. That assault figure is the White House's claim, reported as stated.

Sources: City of Seattle mayor's office release; Fox News reporting of the announcement and the White House response.