Spokane Disallows ICE from Operating on Public Transit

A new city ordinance in Spokane, Washington will make it illegal for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to operate on public transit. "The ordinance seeks to protect Fourth Amendment rights by disallowing agencies and individuals from accessing nonpublic areas of Spokane, specifically for federal immigration enforcement," Luke Kenneally reports for The Gonzaga Bulletin. ICE agents have been known to use transit stations around the country to detain undocumented immigrants for deportation.

Spokane City Council President Ben Stuckart was among the council members who supported the ordinance.  "Stuckart said the City Council met with border patrol and attempted to make a compromise before resorting to an ordinance. The Border Patrol responded by adding 30 additional agents to the Spokane area, which cost taxpayers $250,000 this year, according to Stuckart," Kenneally reports.