Kent Mayor Dana Ralph and Police Chief Rafael Padilla. COURTESY PHOTO, City of Kent

Kent Mayor Dana Ralph and Police Chief Rafael Padilla. COURTESY PHOTO, City of Kent

Kent mayor, police chief discuss immigration enforcement

No changes planned in city after Trump signs executive orders to arrest immigrants

Kent Mayor Dana Ralph and Police Chief Rafael Padilla released a video message Monday, Jan. 27 on YouTube about how the city plans no changes in addressing immigration despite recent executive orders signed by President Donald Trump.

“For decades we have served all of our residents without regard to immigration status,” Ralph said in the video. “Because of the executive order there is a lot of fear and information and misinformation out there. We felt it was important to have a conversation. It is business as usual here. …immigration will not impact the services we provide.”

Trump’s executive orders signed last week opened the door for immigration authorities to arrest immigrants in schools, churches and hospitals; and cleared the way for authorities to begin removing more than a million migrants who were legally admitted to the U.S. under the Biden administration, according to a report on npr.org.

“We will begin the process of returning millions and millions of criminal aliens back to the places from which they came,” said Trump during his inauguration speech as he blame undocumented migrants for crime across the nation.

Padilla emphasized that Kent Police will continue to follow state law about immigration in one of the nation’s most diverse cities.

“State law dictates what officers can and can’t do,” Padilla said. “State law does afford support to remove violent criminals from our community.”

Padilla discussed the state laws about immigration.

• Immigration enforcement is not the primary purpose of state and local law enforcement.

• Officers may not inquire into or collect information about an individual’s immigration or citizenship status or place of birth.

• State and local law enforcement agencies may not provide personal information about an individual to federal immigration authorities in a noncriminal matter except as required by state or federal law.

“We can’t proactively identify someone and send them to federal authorities,” Padilla said.

Officers also cannot detain someone solely for determining their immigration status. So if an officer makes a traffic stop, they cannot ask people in the vehicle about their immigration status.

The chief said they also can’t give access to interviews to federal authorities about people in custody in the city jail.

Ralph said a question city officials keep hearing is about what will police do differently regarding a person’s immigration status because of the executive order.

“Basically, nothing will change,” said Padilla, who added there are very few exceptions to the rule unless it’s involving very violent criminals. “We have not had an arrest for immigration status for at least eight years.”

Legislators tightened up state laws about immigration status eight or so years ago.

Ralph said people have asked if Kent Police will assist federal agents in arresting undocumented individuals.

“For the most part they will act independently,” Padilla said. “There will be instances where federal immigration officials come in and remove violent individuals involved in drug trafficking or criminal organizations. If they come, they usually have a warrant signed by a federal judge. My job is to protect the community and remove violent individuals.”

Padilla addressed whether the federal government can force local police to conduct immigration enforcement. He said he checked with City Attorney Tammy White and was told that authority does not exist.

Ralph said people have asked city officials if they should call 911 to report someone they believe is undocumented.

“You’ll rarely hear me say don’t call 911, but this is one of those instances where it would not be appropriate to do so,” Padilla said.

The chief added that by state law officers cannot arrest that person or pass the information along to federal law enforcement.

“Considering how busy our 911 system is, do not call and advise us of someone’s immigration status,” Padilla said.

But the chief wants undocumented immigrants to call 911 if a crime is going on, whether it’s domestic violence or something else.

“If you are not here legally, we cannot report that,” he said. “There’s no reason to not call 911 (if the victim of a crime).”

Padilla said if any Kent officer doesn’t follow the immigration policies, an internal investigation will be conducted and the officer could face anything from a reprimand to termination depending on the violation.

Ralph summarized the reasons behind putting out a video statement about the changes with immigration at the federal level.

“Our goal is to take care of every resident in Kent regardless of immigration status or documentation,” she said. “We are here to take care of our community and serve you. Hopefully, this video helped settle some of that fear and put out solid information you can rely on.”

Impact on schools

Chris Reykdal, superintendent of the state Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI), issued guidance last week for schools on protection for immigration students after Trump signed executive orders.

OSPI is aware of reports from other states of schools being used to detain and/or identify undocumented students, according to a Jan. 23 news release. OSPI is trying to determine the validity of these reports and whether this practice is happening in Washington state.

For more than a decade, federal guidance has prevented immigration enforcement activities from taking place in “sensitive areas,” including schools and churches, according to the news release. One of Trump’s orders this week revokes that longstanding guidance.

Guidance from the state Attorney General’s Office––rooted in state law––prohibits Washington’s public schools from initiating engagement with immigration authorities for the purpose of sharing student information, according to OSPI. The guidance also requires public schools to have policies in place for appropriately responding when immigration enforcement authorities visit a school campus.

“In Washington state, we will do everything we can to protect our students, no matter their citizenship status,” Reykdal said. “Our State Constitution ensures access to a basic education for every child residing within our state’s borders. Our Constitution does not identify citizenship as a qualification to receive an education.

“Our public schools are a place where students from all different backgrounds come together to learn side-by-side. This is the rich diversity that America is known for, and we intend to uphold these values in the months and years ahead.”

Reykdal’s guidance specifically addressed federal immigration agents coming to school campuses.

“If anyone attempts to engage in immigration enforcement on or near school grounds, school staff shall immediately alert and direct the person to the school principal or authorized designee. School staff shall request that any person desiring to communicate with a student, enter school grounds, or conduct an arrest first produce a valid court order or judicial warrant.

“The principal will forward the request to the district superintendent and/or legal counsel who shall review the court order or judicial warrant for signature by a judge and validity. Additionally, schools shall not permit access to information, records, or areas beyond that specified in the court order, judicial warrant, or other legal requirement.”


Talk to us

Please share your story tips by emailing editor@kentreporter.com.

To share your opinion for publication, submit a letter through our website https://www.kentreporter.com/submit-letter/. Include your name, address and daytime phone number. (We’ll only publish your name and hometown.) Please keep letters to 300 words or less.

More in News

t
Cancer Center is open and ready to serve South King County

Cancer patients can now receive treatment at the Valley Medical Center in Renton.

t
Kent officers part of CW ‘Police 24/7’ episode Thursday night, Feb. 6

Department also part of future episodes after CW crews responded on calls with police in 2024

An Amtrak train in Kent. FILE PHOTO, STEVE HUNTER, Kent Reporter
Pedestrian, 30, dies in Kent collision with Amtrak train | Update

Medical examiner identifies Kent man struck Wednesday evening, Feb. 5 near East Titus Street

t
NTSB rules pilot lost control in 2023 Kent small plane crash

Pilot and passenger were injured; pilot flew without receiving training in plane model’s operation

Courtesy Photo, King County
Man receives 35-year sentence for 2021 Kent killing of mother

Duane Bates borrowed pipe wrench from neighbor in beating death and later returned it

A city of Kent Public Works crew member chains up a truck Feb. 3 to help clear snow from streets. COURTESY PHOTO, City of Kent
Kent schools closed for 3rd consecutive day due to icy conditions

Kent School District cancels classes on Wednesday, Feb. 5

t
World Relief office in Kent faces challenging refugee crisis

Trump’s executive order to suspend refugee resettlement directly impacts nonprofit

Courtesy Photo, Kent School District
Kent schools closed Tuesday, Feb. 4 due to icy roads

Second consecutive day of no school due to road conditions

Courtesy Photo, City of Kent
Kent Severe Weather Shelter to be open nights of Feb. 3-7

Shelter downtown at Holy Spirit Church will operate from 9 p.m. to 7 a.m. each night

t
Kent Police hire officer who fatally shot Kansas man while on duty

Officer previously worked for Olathe Police Department; remains subject of wrongful death lawsuit

Calvin Watts. COURTESY FILE PHOTO, Kent School District
Ex-Kent schools’ superintendent Watts fired from Georgia job

Gwinnett County board terminates superintendent contract; Watts left Kent in 2021 for position