New ordinance will also require officers to clearly display badges or emblems of agency, increasing transparency and accountability

Seattle – Today, Mayor Bruce Harrell proposed a new ordinance to prohibit the use of face coverings by law enforcement, with limited exceptions, and require all law enforcement officials to have visible emblems and badges that identify their agency while performing enforcement duties in Seattle.

This legislation puts Seattle on track to be the first city in Washington and one of the first major cities in the country to adopt a mask ban to increase transparency and accountability around federal law enforcement activity, including immigration enforcement operations.

“Federal law enforcement officials operating in Seattle are not above the laws of our city,” said Mayor Harrell. “The Trump administration’s tactic of using masked, unidentified agents to carry out their inhumane deportation agenda with impunity not only erodes accountability but also sows fear in our communities and creates a dangerous possibility for copycat actors. In the face of Trump’s tyrannical militarization of American cities, this ordinance is a concrete step we can take to uphold our local values and protect our immigrant and refugee communities from these unjust actions. My administration remains committed to using every tool at our disposal to protect the safety and dignity of our residents from federal overreach.”

Face coverings include any mask, garment, helmet, headgear, or other item that conceals or obscures the facial identity of an individual, including a balaclava, tactical mask, gator, and ski mask. The ordinance includes exemptions, including medical or surgical masks to protect against transmission of disease, and respirators to protect against toxins or other environmental hazards.

A willful and knowing violation of the ordinance by a law enforcement officer or agency can result in a civil violation and penalty of $5,000. The ordinance will be enforced by the Office for Civil Rights (OCR).

“Accountability is not punishment, it is a promise kept,” said Derrick Wheeler-Smith, Director of the Seattle Office for Civil Rights. “This legislation strengthens civil rights by ensuring that masked or unidentified federal agents, and those pretending to be, are seen, documented, and addressed rather than swept aside. By holding every officer and agency to the same standard, we protect the rights of our immigrant and refugee neighbors and affirm a simple truth: justice is not selective, it is shared.”

The legislation follows the two Executive Orders the mayor signed earlier this month on preparedness and coordination in the event of unilateral troop deployment to Seattle and protecting immigrant and refugee communities from unjust immigration enforcement actions. The second order reaffirms that the City has no role in civil immigration enforcement, which is solely the responsibility of the federal government.

Additionally, the Seattle Police Department (SPD) is currently developing guidance for officers responding to emergency calls where masked or unidentified individuals are detaining people. The increased use of masks and plainclothes officers has led to multiple arrests across the country of civilians impersonating federal immigration enforcement officials, posing a real public safety threat to communities.

“Our officers’ appearance will be consistent when someone calls 9-1-1 for help and Seattle police officers are dispatched. They will show up ready to serve the public with their faces uncovered and their SPD badge and name proudly displayed,” said Seattle Police Chief Shon Barnes. “At our core, we are peace officers, and our goal is to protect people and keep the peace.” 

“For our client communities to truly feel welcome, it is essential to have protections in place that promote trust and safety for all,” said Malou Chavez, Executive Director of the Northwest Immigrant Rights Project. “This legislation is an example of the City of Seattle’s leadership seeking to protect all communities, and we hope that other jurisdictions follow suit.”

The City is also developing an ordinance to prohibit staging and operations of federal immigration activities on City-owned properties. This is intended to prevent federal immigration enforcement from using parking lots and similar spaces for staging, which has occurred in other cities like Chicago.

Since the beginning of Trump’s second term, Seattle has advanced multiple legal and legislative steps to protect residents from his administration’s unlawful actions and funding cuts. Efforts include passing legislation that strengthens local protections for people seeking gender-affirming and reproductive health care; a lawsuit over DEI and gender ideology Executive Orders and unlawful conditioning of funds; a lawsuit challenging threats to cities with sanctuary policies; and a lawsuit over frozen counterterrorism funds through the Securing the Cities program.

Additionally, Mayor Harrell’s 2026 proposed budget also includes a $27.6 million investment plan to safeguard essential services threatened by federal funding cuts, including shelter, rental assistance, and food access programs, and a 70% increase in funding for immigrant and refugee services including legal supports, Know Your Rights trainings, and workforce development.