Auburn Police did not participate in or assist with a federal immigration enforcement operation conducted Sunday, July 26 in Auburn, Assistant Chief Samuel Betz said in a statement released Monday, July 27.
Betz said agents with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) were conducting an immigration enforcement operation in the city on Sunday, July 26, and that the Auburn Police Department was not notified in advance.
“APD does not participate in civil immigration enforcement or provide local police resources for those operations,” Betz said. “This is consistent with Washington’s Keep Washington Working Act and Auburn’s longstanding policy.”
The statement comes as immigration enforcement activity can raise concerns among residents in Auburn and across South King County about whether local police are involved in federal civil immigration operations.
Betz said the department’s focus is enforcing state and local law and protecting everyone in Auburn.
“Everyone in Auburn and in our region should feel safe calling 911, reporting a crime, serving as a witness or asking an Auburn police officer for help, regardless of immigration status,” Betz said.
He added that Auburn police will continue to serve every person in the city “with the fairness, dignity and respect they deserve.”
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