On Thursday, Feb. 12, 2026, King County Executive Girmay Zahilay signed a new Executive Order to strengthen protections and increase emergency resources for King County’s immigrant and refugee communities impacted by the increase in federal immigration enforcement activities.
In January, Executive Zahilay hosted four immigration roundtable convenings in North, Central, South, and East King County to hear from leaders in immigrant and refugee communities about challenges they were facing and resources needed.
The Executive Order, the first in Executive Zahilay’s administration, was informed by the feedback shared at the convenings.
“Every resident who calls King County home, regardless of their citizenship status, deserves safety, dignity, and to live without fear or intimidation,” Zahilay said. “During my listening sessions, I’ve heard directly from immigrant and refugee neighbors who are afraid to leave their homes and go to school, work, medical appointments, and even report crimes to local law enforcement. Entire communities are living in fear that they may never see their loved ones again, a direct effect of federal overreach. This Executive Order is an immediate step we must take to protect the rights of King County’s residents, maintain community trust, and ensure local advocacy organizations have the resources they need to support impacted communities.”
The order, which takes effect immediately, includes the following actions:
- Allocates $2 million in new emergency funding for immigrant and refugee communities to support rental, food, and legal aid assistance to respond to emerging needs.
- Directs the King County Sheriff’s Office to provide publicly available protocols for responding to 911 calls reporting immigration enforcement activity within the next 30 days. This includes guidelines for how to verify law enforcement personnel who are not displaying credentials and when to use body camera recordings.
- Prohibits immigration authorities from staging or conducting civil immigration enforcement activities in non-public areas of County-owned buildings and properties including parking lots, vacant lots, buildings, or garages.
- Directs all King County departments to support Know Your Rights resources and fully review all policies and procedures to ensure alignment with the Keep Washington Working Act, the Courts Open to All Act, and King County Code Section 2.15.
- Requires the King County International Airport to upgrade security cameras and improve observation areas to maintain public access and increase transparency around chartered deportation flights.
- Creates a Welcoming County subcabinet to advise the Executive on actions to strengthen the County’s support and protection for residents.
- Continues King County’s advocacy to Washington’s Congressional delegates for no additional funding for ICE.
“As the federal administration imposes chaos, violence, and fear across the country, in King County, we are working together proactively to create greater stability and safeguards for our own communities,” Councilmember Teresa Mosqueda (District 8, which includes Burien) said. “I am grateful to be working in partnership with Executive Zahilay on strategies to respond to the surge in federal immigration enforcement, make resources available to our immigrant communities who are under attack, and create safer spaces within King County. As local elected officials, we are the last line of defense for the safety and well-being of our communities—and we will continue to work together, using every tool possible to strengthen our local response to federal overreach and ensure that King County remains a welcoming and safe community for all.”
Upon taking office in November, Executive Zahilay directed County departments to not coordinate or assist with civil immigration enforcement, which is the sole responsibility of the federal government.
Last month, King County signed onto an amicus brief in the Minnesota v. Noem case arguing that the Trump administration’s deployment of masked, armed federal immigration enforcement officials their city is unconstitutional and unlawful.
Additionally, Executive Zahilay signed a letter to Washington’s federal delegation calling for no additional funding to ICE.
These initial actions to protect and support King County’s immigrant and refugee communities are a starting point. Executive Zahilay will continue to work with partners and community groups around the county to identify future opportunities to act on as well as close gaps to ensure that county government is doing all it can to support the communities we serve.
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