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US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has accused Everett, Washington, Mayor Cassie Franklin of fueling tensions with federal authorities after issuing an order banning immigration enforcement in the city.
Franklin issued a mayoral order this week that establishes citywide agreements for workers, including law enforcement, that prevent immigration agencies from entering non-public areas of city buildings without a warrant.
“We have heard directly from residents who are afraid to leave their homes because of the immigration-related activity that is happening in our area and our country. It is heartbreaking to see the impact on Everett families and businesses,” Franklin said in a statement.
“With this order, we are setting clear goals, protecting access to services and strengthening our commitment to serving the entire community.”
ICE dismissed the order Friday, writing in X that it “increases tension and directs law enforcement to interfere in ICE’s operations at their own discretion,” thereby “putting everyone at greater risk.”
Mayor Cassie Franklin said her new citywide immigration enforcement policies are aimed at protecting residents and ensuring access to services, while ICE accused her of fueling tensions with federal authorities. (Google Maps)
ICE said Franklin was directing city employees to “obstruct ICE operations and reveal the location of ICE officers and agents.”
“Partnering with ICE forces federal teams to go into the community and seek criminals out of local jails – INCREASE THE FEDERAL PRESENCE,” the agency said. “Working with ICE reduces the state’s presence.”
“If Mayor Franklin wanted to protect the people he claims to serve, he would empower the city’s police with ICE 287g cooperation — instead serving illegal criminals,” ICE added.
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US Immigration and Customs Enforcement has criticized the mayor of Everett after he issued an order barring federal agents from accessing non-public areas of the city without a permit. (Victor J. Blue/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
During the city council meeting where he announced the policy, Franklin said that “immigration law creates real fear for Everett residents.”
“It was heartbreaking to see the racial profiling impacting families and businesses in Everett,” she said. “We know that there are children who stay at home and don’t go to school, people who don’t go to work or people who don’t go about their day, to eat or to buy important things.”
The mayor’s order covers four main areas, including restricting federal immigration agents from accessing non-public areas of city buildings without a warrant to immediately report on law enforcement activity in the city area and mandating clear signs to enforce access restrictions.
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Everett, Wash., Mayor Cassie Franklin said her new order aims to protect residents amid immigration enforcement efforts. (Stock)
It also calls for a review of internal policy and staff training, including the establishment of a Multi-Departmental Response Team and revised immigration compliance procedures to ensure compliance with national law.
Franklin directed city staff to expand partnerships with community leaders, civil rights organizations and state governments to coordinate responses to immigration enforcement, while promoting immigrant businesses and providing workplace protections and “know your rights” resources.
The mayor also reaffirmed a commitment to “constitutional police practices and best practices,” saying the police department will comply with state law that prohibits participation in the enforcement of immigration arrests. The order outlines the basic principles for documenting interactions with government officials, reviewing records requests and strengthening privacy protections and technical checks.
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Everett, Wash., Mayor Cassie Franklin issued an executive order limiting immigration enforcement to city facilities. (Stock)
“We want everyone in the city of Everett to feel safe calling 911 if they need help and knowing that the Everett police will not ask you about your immigration status,” Franklin said at the council meeting. “I also expect our officials to intervene when it is safe to protect our citizens if they see government officials using unnecessary force.”
Fox News Digital has reached out to Mayor Franklin’s office and ICE for comment.
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