Council passes anti-sanctuary city resolution

What began as a gathering of friends, family and political supporters for the swearing-in of Spokane Valley’s new council members Tuesday evening quickly turned to a heated discussion when council member Ed Pace introduced a resolution stating that Spokane Valley is not a sanctuary city.

Resolutions may be introduced at a City Council meeting, but council member Bill Gothmann, who was participating in the meeting via phone, called the resolution out of order “as it mainly states what we are already doing.”

Sanctuary cities have laws that in various manners shield undocumented immigrants from prosecution. Spokane city law prohibits police from using the immigration status of an individual as “the sole basis for a contact, detention or arrest.” Some say that makes Spokane a sanctuary city.

Pace’s resolution states that Spokane Valley is not a sanctuary city; that the police department should be directed to assist other law enforcement agencies in enforcing U.S. immigration laws; and that police officers and city employees are directed to ask for proof of legal residency in the U.S. when appropriate.

What constitutes appropriate would be determined by the city manager and the police department, said Pace.

In support of Pace, Deputy Mayor Arne Woodard took a shot at Spokane.

“We are not like the city to the west of us,” Woodard said.

Pace said the resolution is perfectly fine and that “many cities around the country are doing this.”

Council member Dean Grafos, who just finished a term as mayor, said he was disappointed to see Pace politicize an issue.

“You don’t want to be like Spokane but now you are bringing politics into our government,” Grafos said. “This is bigotry right here in the Valley.”

The Spokane Valley City Council is technically nonpartisan and does not make political endorsements locally or on a state level.

The council discussion got so heated that newly-selected Mayor Rod Higgins had to use the gavel a few times to call the meeting to order.

At one point Woodard yelled that he’s just trying to uphold the law. Pace insisted the resolution is not anti-immigrant or anti-immigration before sharing that his wife is foreign-born “and also very tired of illegal immigrants.”

Council member Chuck Hafner said the resolution will inevitably lead to profiling.

But Pace said, “It is simply about honoring and enforcing existing immigration law.”

Gothmann reminded everyone that City Council members and police officers take an oath to uphold the Constitution and follow the laws of the land.

“That’s why this petition is unnecessary. We are already not a sanctuary city,” Gothmann said.

The resolution passed when Wood, Woodard, Pace and Higgins voted for it. Newly elected City Council member Wood was quiet during most of the discussion, though stating he was disappointed by the personal attacks he was witnessing.

After the meeting, Spokane Valley police Chief Rick VanLeuven said the police department already works closely with federal agencies when an undocumented immigrant is detained during a criminal investigation. Immigration law is federal law so VanLeuven said cases are passed on to the FBI or U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

“We follow a very detailed protocol when these cases come up,” VanLeuven said, adding that a Washington driver’s license isn’t proof of citizenship. “We are not going to stop someone who’s randomly walking down the street and check their immigration status.”