BELLINGHAM, WA (MyBellinghamNow.com) – The Port of Bellingham has adopted a resolution to restrict immigration enforcement on its property.
The port’s Board of Commissioners approved the resolution Tuesday, June 9 restricting the use of port property for civil immigration enforcement purposes and activities.
This action aims to support Whatcom’s immigrant community members without interfering with lawful immigration enforcement activities.
The vote passed 2-1, with Port Commissioner Bobby Briscoe as the lone no vote.
During the meeting, Briscoe recommended tabling the resolution, claiming he lacked enough information to make an informed decision.
“I think we need to table this and do some more internal work with it on staff, maybe some external work in the county with people and see what’s really going on,” he said. “I don’t think we’re fully ready to do this.”
The resolution states that port property will not be used for civil immigration detention or enforcement support facilities. It also specifies that a judicial warrant is required for any federal civil immigration enforcement activity to occur in port-owned spaces.
This comes as the Whatcom County Council is considering an ordinance that creates a temporary moratorium on expansions or the creation of existing civil detention facilities in the county.
