The Police Department does not enforce immigration policies. State law prohibits Shoreline Police officers from asking or collecting information about a person’s immigration or citizenship status, unless there is a connection with a state or local criminal investigation, and officers may not detain a person solely to determine immigration status.

Under state law and policy, the Department is restricted from sharing information with immigration officials, except under certain circumstances as required by law, such as a valid court order.

The Shoreline Police Department would not typically be involved in federal immigration operations at all. If requested, (if you dial 9-1-1) the Department would provide only support services, such as traffic control or peacekeeping efforts for public safety reasons. 

Booklet on Detecting ICE Agents

ICE_or_NOT_ICE

Being a bystander will be the most common form of observation. Please seek guidance with your workplace employer or place of worship for clarity around their policies. Otherwise, we suggest the following. 

If you witness someone being detained by ICE - Print a copy to hang at home

• If you have a smartphone, record video of the interaction.
• Try to record any identifying information, like agency vests, badge numbers, car make and model, or car license plates.
• If officers ask you to step back, do step back, but you can keep recording video. You have a First Amendment right to record law enforcement actions in public spaces.
• Rather than calling 9-1-1, call/text the WAISN deportation defense hotline (1-844-724-3737) to alert rapid response advocates of ICE activity.
• Be ready to share specific information:
  • Where exactly are the agents?
  • How many immigration or law enforcement agents are there?
  • What are the agents doing?
  • How long have the agents been in that location?
  • What, if anything, do you know about the person being detained?
• Here are some common agency acronyms you may see on agents’ vests:
  • “ICE”: Immigration and Customs Enforcement
  • “ERO”: Enforcement and Removal Operations
  • “CBP”: Customs and Border Protection
  • “DHS”: Department of Homeland Security
• Call the family and/or emergency contact of the person being detained, if you know who they are. You can be the connection to ensure their support network is alerted as soon as possible.
• Write down everything you remember about what you witnessed.
• Get contact information and copies of any recordings or photos from other witnesses.

See ICE in your community? You can call/text the deportation defense hotline (1-844-724-3737) to report ICE activity, even if someone is not being actively detained.

Do not interfere or escalate the situation

• Do not touch, push, or hit an officer.
• Do not run away; if you leave the situation, walk calmly.
• Always speak respectfully.
• Remember: ICE agent misconduct cannot be challenged on the street.

Understand what consequences you could face if you intentionally break the law, whether for civil disobedience or any other purpose, such as obstructing an arrest.

 Provide emotional support and remind people of their rights (especially if you speak the person's language)

If possible, provide emotional support for the person being detained, and remind them of their rights. You have a First Amendment right to talk to the person being detained. You can remind them of their rights and provide verbal support as long as you are not interfering with or obstructing the officers.

Remind them:

• “You can remain silent!”
• “You don’t have to answer questions!”
• “You have the right to call your lawyer!”
• “You don’t have to sign anything without a lawyer!”

Other actions allies can take

• Stay calm and informed
• Share this resource with friends, family, and others in your community.
• Save the deportation hotline numbers in your phone contacts, so you have this information on hand if you need it.
• Print "know your rights" flyers or red cards to have at your home and/or workplace
• Attend a bystander or rapid response training from a free, reputable online source. 
  • Right To Be:  https://righttobe.org/training/bystander-intervention-training/ 
  • Rapid Response Webinar:

 

• Consider starting a neighborhood watch group with this ICE-free Zone Toolkit
• Be alert to digital scams
  • Be skeptical of social media posts promising new or rapid immigration relief
  • There is no communication from the government via WhatsApp or social media
  • Generally, there is no communication by phone --with limited exceptions
  • Avoid sharing unverified information on social media

• Report notario fraud to the Attorney General's Office
  • Victims file a complaint at www.atg.wa.gov or call 1-800-551-4636. Spanish is available. 

• Contribute to mutual aid funds or donate to any of the organizations listed on the right-hand bar working to protect immigrants and their rights.

• Learn about and join efforts of existing community members for accompaniment: waisn.org, JCIJ NW, The Church Council of Greater Seattle, or other ways to directly help (AIDNW.org, fairfightbondfund.org, NDLON Adopt a Day Labor Corner - Shoreline)

Review these Northwest Immigrant Rights Project materials and information from ACLU's Know Your Rights webpage.

Create a safety plan with your family. This can include: 

• Having an emergency contact list.
• Keeping copies of all legal documents in a safe place that the emergency contact can access.
• Consult with a reputable immigration lawyer (print this Centro de la Raza Resource List) to explore any options to attain immigration status.
• Memorize phone numbers for family members and an immigration lawyer.
• Get passports for children who are U.S. citizens.
• Put together a family care plan or temporary guardianship for children, should a parent be detained.
• Visit lcycwa.org to make an appointment for safety planning

Consider coordinating a defense plan, in addition to a family safety plan

• See this resource specific to Colorado as an example: https://coloradoimmigrant.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Family-Preparedness-Packet-2025-ENG_SPA.pdf

 

• Discuss immediately with your workplace how to keep safe from ICE (search nilc.org for guides)Order/print Red

• Cards to have at your workplace, to share at businesses you frequent so they can make available to their customers (ilrc.org/red-cards-tarjetas-rojas)
• Consider reaching out toWA Neighborhood Defense for materials to display that your place of business is a safe place for immigrants.
• Visit Washington Commission on Hispanic Affairs for I9 Inspection Webinars: https://www.cha.wa.gov/small-business-resources
• Check in with your local neighborhood group