Spokane City Council Considers Modern Restrictions on ICE Detention Facilities

Spokane, Washington – The Spokane City Council is weighing new measures aimed at limiting the ability of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to establish detention facilities within city limits. The proposals, spearheaded by Mayor Lisa Brown and Councilmember Paul Dillon, reach as the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) seeks new locations for ICE detention centers nationwide.

Ordinance to Prohibit Private Detention Facilities

Mayor Brown has introduced an emergency ordinance that would prohibit the use of private property for detention facilities in Spokane. This ordinance would restrict private property owners from leasing to DHS, ICE, or other entities for detention purposes in commercial, industrial, and residential zones. The move is a direct response to concerns about the practices within DHS-run detention facilities, including the detention of children and limited access to healthcare. City of Spokane News Release

“Immigration Enforcement Free Zones” Proposed

Councilmember Dillon has also proposed the creation of “immigration enforcement free zones” within the city. These zones would further restrict ICE activity and aim to protect residents’ civil rights. Dillon argues that the ordinance is about controlling what happens within city limits and ensuring public safety and due process, regardless of immigration status. The Center Square

Council Debate and Concerns

The proposals have sparked debate within the City Council. Councilmember Michael Cathcart has criticized the measures as “political theater” and virtue signaling, suggesting they are more about responding to the Trump administration and immigration policy than addressing actual safety concerns. Cathcart also questioned the motives behind the ordinance, suggesting the administration is omitting its true intentions to avoid violating the federal supremacy clause. The Center Square

Current ICE Presence in Spokane

Currently, Immigration and Customs Enforcement does not operate a detention facility in Spokane. Spokesman.com However, DHS is reportedly seeking 10-year leases for office space capable of supporting 70 personnel in Spokane and Boise, Idaho. The Center Square Dillon has expressed concern about the potential for these spaces to be used for detention purposes.

Upcoming Votes

Dillon’s “immigration enforcement free zones” are scheduled for a vote on March 2nd, along with Mayor Brown’s emergency ordinance prohibiting private property leases for ICE detention facilities. The mayor’s policy advisor is scheduled to provide a briefing on the ordinance during a council committee meeting on February 24th, with potential action planned for March 16th. The Center Square

State Law and Private Detention

It’s important to note that state law in Washington already prohibits the private operation of detention facilities, a law passed in 2021. However, this ban was short-lived. City of Spokane News Release