JAYAPAL & SMITH STATEMENT ON DOJ LAWSUIT AGAINST KING COUNTY

[WASHINGTON, DC] – Today, U.S. Representatives Pramila Jayapal (WA-07) and Adam Smith (WA-09) issued the following joint statement after the U.S. Department of Justice announced a lawsuit against King County over the county’s order that bans ICE from using from Seattle’s Boeing Field for immigration enforcement activities:

“This is another attack by the Trump Administration on communities that have implemented policies that uphold our values. It’s posturing that further politicizes the Department of Justice. No amount of posturing changes the basic facts: Welcoming policies make our communities safer and King County is well within its right not to be involved in federal immigration enforcement activities without valid court orders. The president and his administration must face the reality that our immigration system is broken—and that he has exacerbated every aspect of it during his time in office. We stand ready and willing to work with anyone to enact comprehensive immigration reform, and in the meantime, our communities will not be bullied into complying with nonsensical policies that are based on xenophobic falsehoods.”

Jayapal is the Co-Chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus and Vice Chair of the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Immigration and Citizenship, and Smith is the Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee. 

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Issues: Civil Rights, Immigration