Know Your Rights

You Belong Here

The City of Tukwila is committed to creating a safe, welcoming, and inclusive community for everyone who works, lives, and visits here. We support the safety, privacy, and constitutional rights of all.

Resolution 2140 – Restating Tukwila’s Commitment to Being a Safe, Welcoming and Inclusive City.

City employees, including police officers, do not enforce federal civil immigration laws. City employees and officers are prohibited from asking about immigration status, unless otherwise required by law or by court order. Tukwila Municipal Code Chapter 2.98

The Federal government bears sole responsibility for enforcing civil immigration laws. In accordance with Washington State law, the City does not act under federal direction even amid heightened enforcement activity. Keep Washington Working Act FAQ for Law Enforcement

Tukwila Municipal Court Immigration Policy:

What is the role of Tukwila Police Department?

The Tukwila Police Department’s (TPD) primary responsibility is the life and safety of everyone. If officers receive a 9-1-1 call, they will respond as available and will ensure the scene is safe for everyone present, then provide first aid to any individuals as soon as possible.

TPD policy explicitly states that employees will not inquire about any person’s citizenship or immigration status, request specific documents for the sole purpose of determining a person’s immigration status, or initiate, maintain, or participate in any police action based on an individual’s immigration status.

If dispatched to a location where apparent immigration enforcement is underway, TPD officers will:

Attempt to contact the individual who reported the incident

Validate the status of apparent federal law enforcement agents

Address related public safety concerns like traffic and crowd management

Provide or facilitate first aid

What are my Rights?

Know Your Rights: Civil Immigration Enforcement in Washington, The Washington State Office of the Attorney General provides Know Your Rights information, including what to do if you are arrested, detained, or taken into custody. Available in Amharic, Arabic, Chinese (simplified and traditional), German, Hindi, Japanese, Khmer, Korean, Marshallese, Punjabi, Russian, Samoan, Somali, Spanish, Tagalog, Ukrainian, and Vietnamese.

Know Your Rights Resources for Immigrants, Refugees, and Advocates, The City of Seattle Office of Immigrant and Refugee Affairs provides resources on the following topics:

How can I plan to keep my family safe?

Training in English and Spanish on Preparing Family Safety Plans, Legal Counsel for Youth & Children

Step-by-Step Family Preparedness Plan, Immigrant Legal Resource Center

What if my workplace raided?

A Guide for Employers: What to Do if Immigration Comes to Your Workplace, National Immigration Law Center (NILC) & National Employment Law Project (NELP)

Where can I get legal support?

Legal Service Providers in Washington State, Immigration Advocates Network

AILA’s Immigration Lawyer Search, The American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) WA

Where Can I Get Help Now?

Call the Washington Immigration Solidarity Network Deportation Defense Hotline.

1 (844) 724-3737 — Monday to Friday, 6 AM to 6 PM
Report ICE/CBP activity or get connected to emergency resources.

Please note: While the City of Tukwila strives to include links to external websites containing helpful information, we are not responsible for the accuracy of that information or the content of those websites. The inclusion of any link does not imply endorsement by the City of Tukwila. Users are responsible for exercising their own discretion and diligence when visiting external links, calling external hotlines, or seeking legal advice. View the terms of use for interacting with digital content from the City of Tukwila.