RESOLUTION NO. M- 1 8 5 7

 

 

A  RESOLUTION  OF  THE  CITY  COUNCIL  OF  THE  CITY  OF  OLYMPIA, WASHINGTON

DECLARING THE CITY OF OLYMPIA A SANCTUARY CITY

 

 

WHEREAS, the City of Olympia is a welcoming city that serves and protects its residents regardless of their immigration status; and

 

WHEREAS, the City of Olympia is a city of peace where those who are politically persecuted can find safe haven and sanctuary, with a history of supporting immigrant rights including refugees; and

 

WHEREAS, in the City Olympia all people, including immigrants, are respected and valued and are vital to our shared prosperity; and

 

WHEREAS, immigration has been a cornerstone of our city, region, state and nation's development throughout our history; and

 

WHEREAS, Washington' s population grew by forty thousand (40,000) unauthorized residents between 2009 and 2014, making our state one of just six in the country with a growing unauthorized  population;  and

 

WHEREAS, Washington is the nation's eighth largest refugee-receiving  state; and

 

WHEREAS, an estimated one hundred thousand (100,000) Muslim residents are proud to call Washington their home and live peacefully as our neighbors, colleagues and friends; and

 

WHEREAS, more than twenty-eight thousand (28,000) unauthorized youth in Washington received temporary status through the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, and they deserve an opportunity to have a bright future and to contribute their time and talent to make Olympia a city of innovation and growth;

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NOW, THEREFORE, THE OLYMPIA CITY COUNCIL DOES HEREBY RESOLVE AS FOLLOWS:

 

Section 1.  The City of Olympia declares itself to be a Sanctuary City and;

 

Section 2. As a Sanctuary City, City employees will serve all residents, and City services will  be accessible to all residents regardless of immigration status; and

 

Section 3 . The City of Olympia will not inquire upon a resident's immigration status in providing municipal services or in the course of law enforcement; and

 

Section 4. As a Sanctuary City, the City of Olympia will have policies that instruct employees to refuse the application of any request from a state or federal agency that requires the identification of a resident's immigration status, leaving that determination to federal authorities; and

 

Section 5. The City of Olympia shall refuse any requests that are an extension of any federal immigration policy enforcement actions to federal authorities and shall not enter into any agreements to carry out such federal enforcement actions, but leave such actions to federal authorities; and

 

Section 6.  The City of Olympia shall review its policies to ensure that they reflect Olympia's status as a Sanctuary City, including possible revision of City policies to comply with this Resolution.

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PASSED BY THE OLYMPIA CITY COUNCIL, December 2016