Seattle, WA

Growing fear for immigrants in Seattle after new Trump orders

Published

11 months ago

January 25, 2025

Growing fear for immigrants in Seattle after new Trump orders

President Donald Trump has been back in office for less than a week, and is already making good on his promise to deport undocumented immigrants, with sweeping executive orders aimed at giving Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents more power to enforce immigration laws. Yesterday, ICE posted to social media today, saying simply “592 arrests, 449 detainers lodged.” They offered no further context in that post.

Rumors on social media claimed ICE had raided a building on 3rd and University this week. KIRO 7 asked ICE about these posts. A spokesman responded by saying simply, “This was not an U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement encounter.”

Despite that, people in Downtown Seattle tell KIRO 7 they’re worried for the immigrant community.

“I’m generally opposed to ICE raids. I think it’s not in line with the ethos of Seattle. It will be terrible for the economy. And I’m worried about how they’re enforcing this policy before there’s time for the courts to correctly say it’s not constitutional,” Claire Ommen said.

Seattle is a sanctuary city. We reached out to the mayor’s office to see how they are responding to the latest directives from the Trump administration. A spokesperson for the mayor’s office sent a statement, saying:

Seattle has pledged to be a welcoming city that protects and serves all residents. We understand that the increased actions and rhetoric from the federal government is creating fear and uncertainty in our communities.

Recently, Mayor Harrell issued a Mayoral Directive to all executive branch departments regarding federal immigration enforcement to ensure that as a city, our policies protect the safety, privacy and constitutional rights of Seattleites while complying with applicable law. The federal government bears sole responsibility to enforce civil immigration laws, and as such, the city will continue refraining from entangling local law enforcement and diverting limited resources with federal immigration enforcement programs. The City does not have information whether rumored ICE enforcement actions are speculation or supported.

The City remains committed to helping its employees and communities, including immigrant communities, understand laws to avoid confusion and uncertainty. City departments must immediately contact our office if they receive contact from ICE. In the coming month, the Office of Immigrant and Refugee Affairs (OIRA) will host trainings as part of our ongoing commitment to empower communities and ensure individuals and families are well-equipped to know their rights and obligations under the law. OIRA is also creating an internal training for city personnel so they understand how various laws may apply in their work.

KIRO 7 also reached out to local law enforcement agencies about how they planned to respond.

A representative with The King County Sheriff’s Office said:

King County will continue to be a welcoming place for immigrants, recognizing their vital contributions to our region’s cultural and economic strength. We are committed to ensuring that county services and programs support all residents, regardless of immigration status.

As to specific policies and actions, King County adheres to the Keep Washington Working Act, which limits cooperation with federal immigration enforcement and prohibits county departments, including the King County Sheriff’s Office, from assisting ICE without court-issued warrants. Additionally, the county council passed an ordinance in 2017, which limits the immigration-related information that county employees can share or collect. It also restricts ICE’s access to this data, and ensures employees aren’t required to share data unless legally necessary.

Executive Constantine, Sheriff Cole-Tindall and all King County departments will carefully review federal policies and continue their focus on building and fostering trust with the people we serve and protect.

The Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office sent a statement which said:

In recent weeks, I and other Washington Sheriffs have been asked about plans regarding anticipated changes in federal immigration enforcement. Some concerned community members want Sheriffs to cooperate in projected efforts to enforce federal immigration laws, while others want us to take a stand against such efforts.

The Washington State Legislature passed the Keep Washington Working Act (KWW), Laws of 2019 ch. 440, E2SB 5497, during the 2019 Legislative Session.

In the Keep Washington Working Act, the state Legislature determined that it is not the primary purpose of state or local law enforcement to enforce civil federal immigration law. Additionally, the Legislature determined that a person’s immigration status, presence in the country, or employment, alone, is not a matter for police action—reinforcing that the federal government bears the primary jurisdiction to enforce federal immigration law. Significantly, this does not restrict local agencies’ ability to enforce state and local law.

Deportation, immigration and federal law enforcement issues fall under the jurisdiction of the federal courts and are not part of my elected office or sworn duty.

The Sheriff’s Office has always collaborated with Federal Law Enforcement Agencies to protect the safety of our community and law enforcement officers. We will continue to support criminal investigations when requested. Our role has been a collaborative partnership in participating in Task Forces related to criminal activity that affects our community—not immigration enforcement.

The Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office will not take enforcement action based on immigration-related statuses. A person’s immigration status is not a factor in our criminal investigations unless there is an explicit basis in state law, such as a violation of Alien possession of firearms (RCW 9.41.173).

This office’s first duty and mission is protecting lives and reducing crimes to ensure everyone enjoys a good quality of life. We will proactively pursue that duty, protecting all persons without bias in the most professional and compassionate way possible.

The Pierce County Sheriff’s Office, however, said:

The Pierce County Sheriff Office will abide by all enforceable US immigration laws and legal mandates. Law enforcement agencies are obligated to honor applicable federal detainers. I believe there will be more legal guidance in the near future.

As to specific policies and actions, King County adheres to the Keep Washington Working Act, which limits cooperation with federal immigration enforcement and prohibits county departments, including the King County Sheriff’s Office, from assisting ICE without court-issued warrants. Additionally, the county council passed an ordinance in 2017, which limits the immigration-related information that county employees can share or collect. It also restricts ICE’s access to this data, and ensures employees aren’t required to share data unless legally necessary.

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Seattle, WA

Seattle Kraken fall to Mammoth 5-3 for 7th loss in 8 games

Published

6 hours ago

December 13, 2025

Press Room

Seattle Kraken fall to Mammoth 5-3 for 7th loss in 8 games

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Dylan Guenther scored a go-ahead power-play goal in the third period and the Utah Mammoth beat the Seattle Kraken 5-3 on Friday night to snap a three-game losing streak.

Utah Mammoth 5, Seattle Kraken 3: Box score

Nick Schmaltz had a goal and two assists, and Kailer Yamamoto, JJ Peterka, and Lawson Crouse also scored for the Mammoth. Kevin Stenlund had three assists and Karel Vejmelka stopped 32 shots.

Mason Marchment had two goals and Ben Meyers also scored for the Kraken in their seventh loss in eight games. Phillipp Grubauer had 26 saves.

After a scoreless first period, Marchment put Seattle on the board with a backhand shot at 3:35 of the second.

Schmaltz tied it at 8:09 with an unassisted goal. He attacked off a breakaway and chipped the puck over Grubauer’s shoulder from close range.

Yamamoto then gave Utah its first lead with 6:36 left in the middle period.

Seattle had several shots at an equalizer during a two-man advantage lasting nearly two minutes, but the Kraken came up empty.

Marchment then got his second goal of the night and fourth of the season at 7:50 of the third, slapping the puck home from long distance to tie it.

Guenther gave Utah a 3-2 lead with 7:05 remaining, successfully converting a power play.

Peterka and Crouse added empty netters over the final three minutes, and Meyers scored for Seattle with 43 seconds to go for the final margin.

Up next

Kraken: Host Buffalo on Sunday.

Mammoth: At Pittsburgh on Sunday.

Seattle Kraken dealt another tough blow on the injury front

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Seattle, WA

Brock: How rookie DL can fit in Seattle Seahawks’ defense

Published

18 hours ago

December 12, 2025

Press Room

Brock: How rookie DL can fit in Seattle Seahawks’ defense

The Seattle Seahawks focused heavily on their offense during the draft this past spring, using nine of their 11 selections to pick players on that side of the ball.

Just two of their picks were defenders: safety Nick Emmanwori and defensive lineman Rylie Mills.

Seattle Seahawks waive 2 players, have options to fill their roster spots

After returning from an injury suffered in the season opener that forced him to miss three games (and essentially four since he played on four snaps in Week 1), Emmanwori is making his case to be in consideration for NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year.

Mills, on the other hand, has yet to play a snap while recovering from an ACL tear suffered last December during his final season at Notre Dame. But the fifth-round pick appears to be nearing his NFL debut. Mills, who was designated to return to practice from injured reserve Nov. 26, was a full participant in practice for the first time last Friday. He was ruled out of Sunday’s game against Atlanta, but practiced in full on Wednesday and Thursday as Seattle prepares for a matchup with Indianapolis this Sunday.

The Seahawks have until next Wednesday to decide if they will activate Mills to the 53-man roster or place him on IR for the rest of the season. So it may be another week until he makes his debut, and it’s no guarantee that he will play this season. If he is activated to the 53-man roster, how will he fit the Seahawks’ standout defense? Former NFL quarterback Brock Huard shared his insight about the role the Notre Dame product could play during his Blue 88 segment on Seattle Sports’ Brock and Salk on Thursday.

“I do remember watching him a number of times and just, gosh, he was a good college football player,” Huard said. “He’s big now. He’s 6-5, 290 (pounds), and to be honest with you, you know where he fits a little bit more? He would fit a little bit more in a traditional, kind of old school Pittsburgh Steelers 3-4 defense. He would be that five-technique defensive end that could play that spot and be very stout.”

Mills is similar in size to star Seahawks defensive lineman Leonard Williams, who measures in at 6-5 and 310 pounds. But one key difference is Williams has more length, which is a concern Huard has about Mills.

“The challenge and what I’m anxious to kind of see in how they utilize him eventually is he’s not real long (Mills had 32 5/8 inch arms at the draft combine)” Huard said. “He’s not like Leonard Williams with that length. He’s not necessarily like a (Quinton) Bohanna and a (Brandon) Pili at 330-plus pounds either. (He’s) 6-5, 290, fairly athletic, super smart, super savvy, but he’s a little different than all the rest of these D-linemen.

“He’s certainly not an edge player and he doesn’t have some of the size or the length of some of the interior (linemen).”

Every Rylie Mills sack (17.0) 👀💪
The best of @ryliemills99 ➡️ https://t.co/tBCRILE4Eh#GoIrish☘️ pic.twitter.com/kdxRT6F6c5
— Notre Dame Football (@NDFootball) March 21, 2025

However, Huard is confident the Seahawks can figure out the best way to utilize Mills’ skills just like they have with another player on their defensive line who lacks some of the ideal measurables: 2024 first-round pick Byron Murphy II.

“Like they’ve done with Murphy, who also is not prototypical in some of the size, they will play to his skill set,” Huard said. “(Mills’) greatest skill set, frankly, might just be his brain.”

Hear the full conversation at this link or in the audio player near the top of this story. Listen to Brock and Salk weekdays from 6-10 a.m. or find the podcast on the Seattle Sports app.

Seattle Seahawks coverage

• What to expect if Colts start Philip Rivers at QB vs. Seattle Seahawks
• Seattle Seahawks Injury Report: OL starter may be nearing return
• Daniel Jeremiah: Seahawks rookie Grey Zabel ‘an elite guard now’
• Date and time for Seattle Seahawks’ Week 17 game at Carolina announced
• Seahawks Notebook: Coach leaves team; two players designated to return

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Seattle, WA

Seattle weather: Drier skies Friday, some rivers remain above flood stage

Published

1 day ago

December 12, 2025

Press Room

Seattle weather: Drier skies Friday, some rivers remain above flood stage

SEATTLE – High river levels continue this evening after the heaviest showers came to an end Thursday with only a few lingering showers. A Flash Flood Watch remains in effect for the Mount Vernon area due to flood risks if local levees fail, which remains possible through Friday afternoon.

Our FOX 13 Weather Team is closely watching for potential flash flooding concerns over the Skagit River.

A Flash Flood Watch is posted until late Friday: there is a possibility of dike/levee failure. (FOX 13 Seattle)

Landslide and localized flooding will still remain an issue into the end of the week.

High river levels continue this evening after the heaviest showers come to an end Thursday.

We have seen three rivers in Western Washington reach record level heights, making this a historic flooding event for the state. We still have the likelihood of seeing record heights for the Skagit River at Mount Vernon this evening into early Friday morning as it crests. Most of our area rivers will continue to decrease overnight and throughout Friday.

We have seen three rivers in Western Washington reach record level heights, making this a historic flooding event for Western Washington.

Rainfall totals Thursday were significantly lower compared to Wednesday, which will help to lower river levels over the next few days.

Rainfall totals Thursday were significantly lower compared to Wednesday, which will help to lower river levels over the next few days.

Temperatures this afternoon were also significantly warmer compared to average, with highs in the mid to upper 50s.

Temperatures this afternoon were also significantly warmer compared to average, with highs in the mid to upper 50s.

What’s next:

Skies will be much drier Friday as we see the atmospheric river move out of Western Washington. High pressure will slowly build back in for Friday and Saturday, aiding in the rivers receding and for the soil to dry out.

Skies will be much drier Friday as we see the atmospheric river move out of Western Washington.

Highs will remain very mild through the weekend, reaching the mid 50s. We will see dry skies and even some sunbreaks for Saturday. Our next round of showers return Sunday with scattered rain, then heavier showers and lowering snowlevels by the middle of next week.

Highs will remain very mild through the weekend, reaching the mid 50s.

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The Source: Information in this story came from FOX 13 Seattle Meteorologist Claire Anderson and the National Weather Service.

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