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Take Action: Pierce County Sheriff and ICE
Recently elected Pierce County Sheriff Keith Swank has issued a concerning statement about the Sheriff’s Department and potential involvement with ICE activities. He issued the following statement to Cascade PBS:
“The Pierce County Sheriff Office will abide by all enforceable U.S. immigration laws and legal mandates,” wrote Sheriff Keith Swank, who took office on Jan. 15. “Law enforcement agencies are obligated to honor applicable federal detainers.”
Please consider contacting the following elected officials in response to this.
Pierce County Sheriff
Suggested Language:
I am contacting you as a voter, resident, and tax payer of Pierce County. Pierce County Sheriff Keith Swanks recent comments to the press that the Sheriff’s Department is obligated to honor applicable federal detainers are alarming.
The 2019 Keep Washington Working Act prohibits the Sheriff’s office from:
Routinely asking about and collecting place of birth, immigration status, or nationality, unless doing so is necessary for an ongoing criminal investigation.*
Stopping or detaining someone to determine immigration status.
Giving ICE/CBP non-public information personal information (eg. home address).*
Allowing ICE/CBP access to interview people in custody about civil immigration violations. If ICE/CBP has access, the person in custody must provide written consent before ICE/CBP can interview them.
Holding people on ICE/CBP detainers or administrative warrants.
Notifying ICE/CBP when someone will be released from custody.*
Denying someone services, benefits, privileges or opportunities due to the presence of an ICE detainer, notification request, or immigration warrant.
Accepting free interpretation and translation services, or language classes from ICE/CBP.
Entering into agreements with immigration agencies to perform immigration enforcement duties (eg. 287(g) agreements).
Entering into contracts with immigration agencies to detain immigrants for ICE/CBP (eg. Intergovernmental Service Agreements (IGSAs) to rent jail bed space).
These protections are crucial to ensure that all residents can access the emergency services they are entitled to without fear of reprisal from ICE/CBP. Will Pierce County Sheriff Keith Swank uphold the oath he took and enforce state law?
Thank you,
Pierce County Council and Executive
Suggested Language:
I am contacting you in light of Pierce County Sheriff Keith Swanks recent comments to the press that the Sheriff’s Department is obligated to honor applicable federal detainers.
The 2019 Keep Washington Working Act prohibits the Sheriff’s office from:
Routinely asking about and collecting place of birth, immigration status, or nationality, unless doing so is necessary for an ongoing criminal investigation.*
Stopping or detaining someone to determine immigration status.
Giving ICE/CBP non-public information personal information (eg. home address).*
Allowing ICE/CBP access to interview people in custody about civil immigration violations. If ICE/CBP has access, the person in custody must provide written consent before ICE/CBP can interview them.
Holding people on ICE/CBP detainers or administrative warrants.
Notifying ICE/CBP when someone will be released from custody.*
Denying someone services, benefits, privileges or opportunities due to the presence of an ICE detainer, notification request, or immigration warrant.
Accepting free interpretation and translation services, or language classes from ICE/CBP.
Entering into agreements with immigration agencies to perform immigration enforcement duties (eg. 287(g) agreements).
Entering into contracts with immigration agencies to detain immigrants for ICE/CBP (eg. Intergovernmental Service Agreements (IGSAs) to rent jail bed space).
These protections are crucial to ensure that all residents can access the emergency services they are entitled to without fear of reprisal from ICE/CBP. What steps will you be taking to ensure the Sheriff follows this state law?
Thank you,
Tacoma City Council
The Tacoma Police Department uses the County Jail for all of their detained individuals. The County Jail is run by the Pierce County Sheriff’s Department. Additionally, in light of the leadership transition at TPD, their stance on ICE cooperation is unclear.
Suggested Language:
I am contacting you in light of Pierce County Sheriff Keith Swanks recent comments to the press that the Sheriff’s Department is obligated to honor applicable federal detainers.
Tacoma currently contracts with the Sheriff’s Department for jail services. What steps are you taking to ensure the Sheriff’s Department remains in compliance with the 2019 Keep Washington Working Act? If the Sheriff’s Department chooses to violate this Act what actions will the City take to protect those detained by the City of Tacoma?
Tacoma Police Department is currently in a crisis of leadership. Is TPD committed to following the Keep Washington Working Act?
Thank you