HomeMy WebLinkAbout09-025 Regarding expanded US border patrol activity on the Olympic PeninsulaRESOLUTION 09-025
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITX COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PORT TOWNSEND,
WASHINGTON REGARDING EXPANDED U.S. BORDER PATROL ACTIVITY ON
THE OLYMPIC PENINSULA
TO THE HONORABLE BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, AND
TO THE PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE AND THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVES, AND TO THE SENATE AND HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF
THE UNITED STATES, IN CONGRESS ASSEMBLED, AND TO THE HONORABLE
CHRISTINE GREGOIRE, GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON, AND TO THE
SENATE AND HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON,
AND TO THE HONORABLE JANET NAPOLITANO, SECRETARY OF HOMELAND
SECURITY:
WHEREAS there has been an expansion of mission, facilities and personnel of the U.S.
Border Patrol under the Department of Homeland Security in Jefferson County and Washington
State's Olympic Peninsula with growth from four Border Patrol agents in 2006 to 25 Border
Patrol agents in 2008 with projected growth to 125 agents; and
WHEREAS this expansion comes at a time when basic government services such as K-
12 education have been cut, long-term state and local public employees laid off, best practices
abandoned for lack of funds, and local officials, the U.S. Attorney and the FBI have expressed
budgetary concerns, as reported in statewide newspapers; and
WHEREAS the US Border Patrol is placing random checkpoints on highways
substantially away from the border in the interior of the Olympic Peninsula, is conducting
internal patrols within our communities, and plans a large new facility on the Olympic Peninsula
which by multiple accounts will include a detention facility; and
WHEREAS the location of checkpoints, frequency of stops and other Border Patrol
practices raise concerns about racial and ethnic profiling; and
WHEREAS ordinary crime control is the responsibility of our local law enforcement
agencies and Border Patrol intrusion into their jurisdictions hampers community policing
strategies that build long-term relationships of trust and accountability; and
WHEREAS judicial precedent raises questions about the constitutionality and legality of
the current program by stating that checkpoints must have an actual connection with substantial
traffic from a proximate border and are not to be used for ordinary crime control purposes.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that we, the City Council of the City of Port
Townsend, call for a suspension of expanded Border Patrol activity away from the border until
the utility, legality and constitutionality ofthis expansion has been determined by the Congress
and the courts; and
Page 1 Resofution 09-025
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that during this suspension, we call for an evaluation of
the utility of the current expansion of mission, facilities and personnel of the US Border Patrol
on the Olympic Peninsula, and an evaluation of the opportunity costs of this federal expenditure
while core government services at all levels are cut for lack of funding; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that we call on our local law enforcement officers to
continue to uphold their sworn oath to protect the rights and liberties of the members of our
community; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that we, the City Council of the City of Port
Townsend, urge our elected representatives to foster a reformed approach toward securing our
border which focuses on interdiction at the border, preserves constitutional protections and
respects local law enforcement.
ADOPTED by the City Council of the City of Port Townsend at a regulaz meeting
thereof, held this first day of June 2009.
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Michelle Sandoval, Mayor
Attest:
Pamela Kolacy, MMC
City Clerk
Approved as to form:
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John P. Watts
City Attorney
Page 2 Resolution 09-025