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RESOLUTION NO. 3747
A RESOLUTION of the Port of Seattle Commission establishing a Welcoming Port
Policy Directive on increased engagement with, and
support for, immigrant and refugee communities.

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WHEREAS, as both an international gateway and a county-wide special purpose
government, the Port of Seattle is committed to supporting the safety, inclusion, and
engagement of all members of our community; and
WHEREAS, we strive to protect the rights of, and uphold equity for, every King County
residents and every person who uses our facilities, and to provide fair and equal access to
services, benefits and opportunities; and
WHEREAS, these principles hold especially true for immigrants, refugees, and
international visitors; and
WHEREAS, the Port has an essential obligation to foster a culture and environment
that make it possible for our region to remain a vibrant and welcoming global gateway where
our immigrant communities, refugee residents, and foreign visitors can fully participate in and be integrated into -the social, civic, and economic fabric of our region; and
WHEREAS, the last year and a half has brought immigrant and refugee issues to the
forefront in an unexpected and unwelcoming manner, such that we not only fear for the
safety and comfort of our foreign visitors and residents, but also are concerned that recent
rhetoric and policies might reduce the foreign tourism that is so essential to our local and
state economy; and

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WHEREAS, since President Trump's Executive Order banning travel from seven Muslimmajority countries was put into effect on January 27, 2017, the Port of Seattle has been
increasing its local and national efforts to support and protect the rights and quality of life of
immigrants, refugees and foreign visitors; and
WHEREAS, the Port of Seattle has a strong relationship with our federal partners including the many Department of Homeland Security (DHS) personnel - from Customs and
Border Protection (CBP) to the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) - who help
operate our facilities and keep them safe; and
WHEREAS, we believe deeply that the Port can be safe, secure, and comply with all
federal law, while simultaneously being welcoming, accessible to all, and supportive of those
immigrants, refugees, and foreign visitors who use our facilities; and

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WHEREAS, this policy directive is a logical next step in this work, and our efforts are
complementary to the leadership that jurisdictions like King County, the City of Seattle, and the
State of Washington have already taken;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Port of Seattle Commission as follows:

SECTION 1. The Welcoming Port Policy Directive as shown in the attached Exhibit A is hereby
established in accordance with the following five goals:
(a) Beyond what is required by local, state, and federal law, the Port will not deny anyone
services based on immigration status - whether they are travelers, job seekers, local
residents, or employees of the Port, its tenants, its vendors, or its contractors.
(b) Beyond what is required by local, state, and federal law, the Port will prohibit any Port
employees, including law enforcement officers, from asking about place of birth,
citizenship or immigration status or collecting information on place of birth, citizenship
or immigration status.
(c) Beyond what is required by local, state, and federal law, the Port will not use its own
resources to facilitate the enforcement of civil immigration law.
(d) The Port will strive to make all visitors to its facilities to feel welcome, safe, and able to
access services, benefits, and opportunities.
(e) The Port remains committed to engaging and collaborating with local immigrant and
refugee community stakeholders and advocates and with community-based
organizations, and to continue identifying new or expanded opportunities for effective
partnerships.
SECTION 2. The Policy Directive contained in Exhibit A and attached to this resolution shall be
labeled and catalogued as appropriate, together with other Commission Policy Directives, and
shall be made readily available for use by Port staff and members of the public as a governance
document of the Port of Seattle.

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the identification or apprehension of a person or persons in order to investigate them for a
violation of the immigration laws and subject them to one or more of the following:
1. Civil immigration detention;
2. Removal proceedings; or
3. Removal from the United States.
"Immigration detainer" means a request by ICE to a federal, state, or local law enforcement
agency, such as the King County department of adult and juvenile detention, to provide notice
of release or maintain custody of a person based on an alleged violation of a civil immigration
law. "Immigration detainer" includes a detainer issued under Sections 236 or 287 of the
Immigration and Nationality Act or 287.7 or 236.1 of Title 8 of the Code of Federal Regulations.
"Immigration detainer" includes a detainer issued under DHS form l-274A entitled Immigration
Detainer- Notice of Action, as well as predecessor and successor versions.
"Interpretation" means the transfer of an oral communication from one language to another.
"Limited-English-proficient" means a person who does not speak English as the person's
primary language, who has a limited ability to read, speak, write, or understand English.
"Personal information" means one or more of the following, when the information is linked
with or is reasonably linkable, including via analytic technology, to the person's first name or
first initial and last name: 1) Home address; 2) Work address; 3) Telephone number; 4)
Electronic mail address; 5) Social media handle or other identifying social media information; 6)
Any other means of contacting a person; 7) Social security number; 8) Driver's license number
or Washington identification card number; 9) Bank account number or credit or debit card
number; 10) Information or data collected through the use or operation of an automated
license plate recognition system; and 11) User name that, in combination with a password or
security question and answer, would permit access to an online account.
"Translation" means the transfer of a written communication from one language to another
while preserving the· intent and essential meaning of the original text.
SECTION 3. Scope and Applicability.
A. This policy directive pertains to activities of Port of Seattle employees. Nothing in this
directive shall be interpreted to prohibit Port employees from engaging productively
with our federal partners in the normal course of Port-related business, including
participating in cross-designation or task-force activities with local or federal law
enforcement authorities for criminal law enforcement.
B. This policy directive is intended to be consistent with federal laws regarding
communications between local jurisdictions and federal immigration authorities,
including but not limited to United States Code Title 8, Section 1373.

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SECTION 4. Responsibilities.
A. The Executive Director shall cause the policies and procedures in use by employees of
the Port of Seattle to be made consistent with the principles of this policy directive and
to promulgate such additional policies and procedures as may be needed to
operationalize the intent of this policy directive.

B. The Executive Director shall ensure that Port employees are appropriately informed and
trained on the provisions of these policies on a regular basis to ensure compliance with
both the substance and intention of this document.
SECTION 5. Policy.
A. Unless required by local, state, or federal law, or international treaty, all applications,
questionnaires, and interview forms used in relation to the provision of Port
opportunities or services shall not include required disclosure of information related to
place of birth, citizenship or immigration status. Unless otherwise required, the Port
shall only collect this data in a manner that separates it from personally identifying
information.
B. To ensure that everyone who engages with the Port feels welcome, the Port will strive
to provide free interpretation and translation services for the most prevalent languages
spoken in our region, based on an annual review of the top six languages identified by
the King County demographer. When a limited-English-proficient (LEP) person who
speaks one of those six languages seeks or receives services, the Port shall make
reasonable efforts to provide prompt interpretation services in all interactions with the
person, whether the interaction is done remotely or in person. In addition, the Port will
continue to meet all Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and other federal
requirements that ensure that LEP individuals have meaningful access to our services.
Where an application or form administered by the Port requires completion in English
by a limited-English-proficient person, the ·Port shall make reasonable efforts to provide
oral interpretation of the application or form, as well as acknowledgment by the
limited-English-proficient person that the form was translated and completed by an
interpreter. The Port shall develop language assistance plans that identify which of its
vital documents and public communication materials need to be translated. The plans
should also include identification of plans for providing translation of webpages,
automated telephonic greetings, automated telephonic voice messages and
informational signage.
C. The Port will continue to ensure that all employees - including Port law enforcement
officers - are committed to welcoming and respectful treatment of immigrants,
refugees, and foreign visitors - including not initiating police action based solely on an
individual's place of birth, citizenship or immigration status, or using stops for minor
offenses or requests for voluntary information as a pretext for discovering a person's
immigration status. Furthermore, no Port employee shall expend time, money, or other
resources on facilitating the civil enforcement of federal immigration law or

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participating in civil immigration enforcement operations, except where state or federal
law, regulation, or court order shall so require.
D. The Port will continue to defer detainer requests from ICE or CBP to King County, as jails
are in King County's jurisdiction. Similarly, the Port will not enter into any contract,
agreement, or arrangement that would grant federal civil immigration enforcement
authority or powers to the Port or its law enforcement officers; provide federal
immigration agents with access to databases without a judicial warrant; carry out a civil
arrest based on an administrative warrant separately or in combination with an ICE or
CBP detainer request; or provide personal information to federal immigration
authorities for purposes of civil immigration enforcement, absent a warrant signed by a
judge or a law requiring disclosure, except as required by state or federal law. When
individuals are detained at our facilities or being transported through our facilities, the
Port will continue to share its expectations that these individuals have full access to
their legal rights and are receiving appropriate treatment.
E. The Port will work in collaboration with local refugee resettlement organizations such
as World Relief, Jewish Family Services, International Rescue Committee, and others to
identify ways to increase the ease, and decrease the cost, of welcoming newly arriving
refugees through Sea-Tac Airport.
F. The Port will join the Seattle-based advocacy organization One America in participating
in the "Red, White and Blue - Time for Citizenship" initiative by posting signage at
strategic places throughout Sea-Tac Airport encouraging eligible lawful permanent
residents to apply for U.S. citizenship, and by hosting an on-site citizenship clinic for
airport employees and local residents who are lawful permanent residents to gain legal
and administrative support in applying for citizenship. As appropriate, the Port should
consider expanding these clinics to provide access to other services for immigrant and
refugee populations. The Port shall also explore other ways to use its facilities to
support immigrant and refugee communities, such as when we provided office space
for immigration lawyers during the peak of the "travel ban" activity.
G. The Port will continue to explore ways to cooperate with local jurisdictions, nonprofit
organizations and others to support local immigrant and refugee communities,
including potential partnerships on workforce development and economic
development.
SECTION 6. Program Evaluation.
A. By December 31, 2018, the Executive Director shall report to the commission on the
successful implementation of these policies, procedures, and programs.
B. Annually, the Executive Director shall empower key staff to conduct a review of Port
actions to ensure that staff continue to comply fully with this directive.
SECTION 7. Fiscal Implications.

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A. Fiscal implications of this policy directive will be reviewed by the Executive Director
annually, at a minimum, to determine if additional funding or resources are required to
implement the policy directive. Funding proposals shall be included in annual budget
requests as appropriate.
SECTION 8. Findings.
A. Engaging with people from around the world is essential to the success of the Port of
Seattle - both morally and economically:

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(1)

We benefit from international travelers who use our airport and cruise terminals.

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(2)

We thrive when global consumers purchase goods that are shipped through our

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container terminals or our air cargo facilities.
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Seaport Alliance, caught by the thousands of North Pacific fishing boats that
homeport at Fishermen's Terminal.
(4)

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We know that immigrants are key to the creation of so many Washington goods
and services - from Eastern Washington agricultural products that we ship via the
seaport and airport to technology companies and global health organizations that
utilize our airport to connect with customers, clients, and partners.

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We celebrate the $540 million in seafood exports sent through the Northwest

We welcome the thousands of immigrants who work at the Port itself, and those
who work for other companies and at or around our facilities such as
concessionaires, taxi, and rideshare drivers serving our airport and cruise terminals,
truck drivers at the seaport, and the crews of cruise ships and container ships. We

(6)

encourage their participation in the family-wage jobs that the Port helps create.
We rely on our immigrant and refugee residents to foster both economic growth
and cultural vibrancy, and we benefit tremendously from the large number of
diverse immigrants and refugees who contribute to the development of a diverse
and enriched community.

B. As a global gateway, these issues are particularly relevant to our region and state. For
example, nearly one in five Seattle residents is foreign born and 129 languages are
spoken in the Seattle Public Schools. The Seattle Metro area is among the 20 U.S.
metropolitan areas with the largest populations of undocumented immigrants, and
thousands of undocumented youth in Washington are in the Deferred Action for
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Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. Washington is the 8 largest refugee receiving
state, and a majority of the estimated 3,000 new arrivals each year are resettled in King
County.

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C. In November 2016, Seattle Mayor Ed Murray signed an Executive Order reaffirming
Seattle as a Welcoming City. The order stated that City employees will not ask about the
immigration status of residents and all City services will be available to all residents, and

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it creates an Inclusive and Equitable City Cabinet to coordinate City efforts to protect
the civil liberties and civil rights of Seattle residents.
D. In January 2017, the Seattle City Council passed a unanimous resolution affirming the
City's commitment as a welcoming city.
E. In February 2017, Washington State Governor Jay lnslee signed an executive order
affirming and clarifying Washington state's policies for state agencies who provide
services to immigrant Washingtonians.
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In April 2017, the Washington State Attorney General released formal guidance to
answer questions local agencies - including libraries, law enforcement agencies,
hospitals, and schools - may have about the impacts of changes to immigration laws
and their discretion regarding participation in federal immigration enforcement.

G. Also in April 2017, King County, City of Seattle, and the Seattle Foundation announced a
combined $2.25 million in emergency funding for critical services for immigrants,
refugees, and other residents whose health, safety, and human rights are at risk.
Specifically, they created an immigrants' Legal Defense Fund, a Resilience Fund to help
nonprofit organizations expand successful programs that are already helping people in
the immigrant and refugee community, and a Resource and Information Hub so that
everyone in King County - including those who want to support immigrants and
refugees - knows where to go for resources, alerts, and opportunities.
H. In February 2018, building on guidelines approved by the Metropolitan King County
Council in 2017, King County adopted immigration legislation that prevents the use of
County funds and resources on federal immigration enforcement and outlines the steps
the County will use to protect immigrants and refugees who seek services from the
County or are victims/witnesses of crime, while still adhering to federal law.

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EXHIBIT A to Resolution 3747
WELCOMING PORT POLICY DIRECTIVE
As proposed May 8, 2018

SECTION 1. Purpose.
A. The purpose of this policy directive is to reaffirm the Port of Seattle's commitment to
the safety, inclusion, and engagement of immigrants, refugees, and international
visitors who interact with our facilities or services. The Port has an essential obligation
to foster a culture and environment that make it possible for our region to remain a
vibrant and welcoming global gateway where our immigrant communities, refugee
residents, and foreign visitors can fully participate in and be integrated into the social,
civic, and economic fabric of our region .
B. Nothing in this policy directive should be construed as an intent to alter the
operational partnerships we have with our federal partners - including the many
Department of Homeland Security personnel like Customs and Border Protection and
the Transportation Security Administration who help our facilities function efficiently
and keep them safe - or to impede the work of those personnel at our facilities.
However, we strongly believe that the Port can be safe, secure, and comply with all
federal law, while simultaneously being welcoming, accessible to all, and supportive of
those immigrants, refugees, and foreign visitors who use our facilities.
SECTION 2. Definitions.
When used in this policy directive, the following words and phrases shall have the meanings
given below unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:
"Administrative warrant" means a noncriminal imr:nigration warrant of arrest, order to detain
or release aliens, notice of custody determination, notice to appear, removal order, warrant of
removal, or any other document, issued by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), CBP,
or U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) that can form the basis for a person's
arrest or detention for a civil immigration enforcement purpose. ICE administrative warrant
forms include the U.S. DHS form 1-200 (Rev. 09/16) "Warrant for Arrest of Alien" and Form 1205 "Warrant Of Removal/Deportation," as well as predecessor and successor versions.
"Administrative warrant" does not include any criminal warrants issued upon a judicial
determination of probable cause and in compliance with the Fourth Amendment to the United
States Constitution.
"Citizenship or immigration status" means a person's recorded citizenship or immigration
status, as such status is defined in the Immigration and Nationality Act, at the time an agent or
agency receives the information.
"Civil immigration enforcement operation" means an operation that has as one of its objectives

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ADOPTED by the Port of Seattle Commission at a duly noticed public meeting thereof,
held this 22nd day of May, 2018, and duly authenticated in open session by the signatures of
the commissioners voting in favor thereof and the seal of the commission.

RYAN CALKINS

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FRED FELLEMAN

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- + - + - - - - - =- : : - - - - - - PETER STEINBRUECK

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