Vancouver, WA. — The Vancouver City Council on Tuesday issued a sweeping Public Declaration on Community Harm, Public Safety, and Human Dignity, formally condemning the conduct of federal immigration enforcement agencies operating under the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, including U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
City leaders said federal enforcement activities in and around Vancouver have caused “demonstrable harm and destabilization,” generating fear among residents, eroding trust in law enforcement, disrupting families and schools, and producing negative economic impacts for workers and local businesses.
According to the declaration, reported enforcement patterns include the use of physical force and intimidation, limited identification of officers, lack of transparency or due process, and actions that disproportionately affect individuals based on perceived race, language, occupation, or presence in certain public spaces.
“Public safety depends on trust,” the declaration states. “When residents are afraid to leave their homes, attend school, seek medical care, report crimes, or go to work, public safety is actively undermined.”
The Council emphasized that immigration enforcement is a federal responsibility, while local government exists to protect the health, safety, and dignity of residents. The declaration cites constitutional protections, including the Fourth Amendment’s limits on unreasonable searches and seizures and the Tenth Amendment’s prohibition on federal commandeering of local governments.
Vancouver reaffirmed its adherence to Washington’s Keep Washington Working Act, which restricts local participation in civil immigration enforcement. Absent a judicial criminal warrant or legal requirement, city personnel will not provide access to non-public spaces, data, or facilities for civil immigration operations, nor allow city property to be used for federal enforcement staging.
City officials also acknowledged gaps in existing law, including limited accountability for federal actions that cause community-wide harm, insufficient remedies for destabilized families and businesses, and inadequate mechanisms to address trauma and economic disruption.
Grounded in the city’s Equity and Inclusion resolution, the declaration frames current conditions as an ongoing crisis affecting Vancouver’s health, safety, education, and economic stability. The Council committed to maintaining clear boundaries between local services and federal enforcement, supporting community-led accountability strategies, and providing regular public reporting on federal enforcement impacts within the city.
The City reiterated that all residents, regardless of immigration status, are encouraged to call 911 for life-threatening emergencies or to report crimes.
“The impacts on this community are real and ongoing,” the declaration concludes. “We reject actions that cause fear and harm. We will respond with clarity, resolve, and the full force of our legal authority.”
About the Author
