Seattle mayor signs executive orders before National Guard arrive
Seattle Mayor bruce Harrell has signed two executive orders in response to teh anticipated deployment of the National Guard and federal military troops in the city by President Donald Trump. The first order criticizes the federal deployment as an unprecedented overreach that undermines local self-governance,risks escalating conflicts,and erodes public trust. It establishes the “Seattle Resilience Task Force,” aimed at educating communities about their rights, engaging with advocacy groups on the federal troop presence, and creating a reporting process for alleged misconduct by such forces. The order also prohibits the Seattle Police Department from operating under the direction of the national Guard or federal authorities,ensuring it maintains its role in local law enforcement,and supports peaceful protest activities during such deployments.
The second executive order affirms Seattle’s commitment to immigrants and refugees, condemning President Trump’s policies that target these groups as contrary to the city’s values of inclusion and diversity. It tasks the Office of Immigrant and Refugee Affairs with expanding community education and “know yoru rights” initiatives, backed by a proposed budget increase. Additionally, Harrell has proposed legislation to restrict federal immigration enforcement actions on city property, where legally possible. The orders come amid broader tensions between federal authorities and local jurisdictions over immigration enforcement policies.
Seattle mayor signs executive orders in anticipation of National Guard deployment
(The Center Square) – Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell has signed two executive orders in anticipation of President Donald Trump deploying the National Guard in the Emerald City.
The first executive order accuses Trump of “unprecedented and unwarranted actions deploying the National Guard and federal military troops to American cities. The use of federal military forces in local communities without consent of local authorities is inconsistent with American principles of democracy and the right of states and cities to self-govern, risks escalation of conflict, and undermines public trust.”
The EO creates the “Seattle Resilience Task Force” that will do the following:
- Educate communities about their rights
- Meet with community advocacy groups to discuss the impacts of the National Guard or other federal military troop deployment in Seattle
- Set up a process for the public to report alleged improper acts by the National Guard or other federal military troops
The EO also prohibits the Seattle Police Department from acting “at the direction of the National Guard or federal authorities so that it is able to continue to fulfill its primary mission of local law enforcement.”
The EO also declares that “In the event of organized First Amendment activities during a unilateral deployment of the National Guard or other federal military troops, the City supports the right of people to make their voices heard and shall offer to work with organizers to help keep protests peaceful and to minimize the potential for conflict.”
The second EO declares that “immigrants and refugees are foundational to the identity of our city and contribute profoundly to Seattle’s growth, resilience, and cultural vibrancy,” and that Trump has “targeted immigrants and refugees to an unprecedented level, undermining American principles of inclusion, diversity, and support for immigrant and refugee communities.”
The EO tasks the Office of Immigrant and Refugee Affairs to “support culturally responsive community education and ‘know your rights’ initiatives.” According to the EO, Harrell’s proposed 2026 operating budget would increase the office’s budget by more than $4 million to either expand or create new programs.
As part of the EO, Harrell has proposed an ordinance “prohibiting staging and operations of federal civil immigration enforcement activities on City property to the extent permissible by law.”
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The EO also details how Seattle PD is to respond to 911 calls involving alleged federal law enforcement agents or officers.
In August, U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi sent the city of Seattle and more than two dozen other local jurisdictions a letter accusing them of holding policies that allegedly obstruct federal immigration efforts and protect illegal aliens from deportation. Gov. Bob Ferguson received a similar letter from Bondi, to which he replied on X that “Washington state has no intention of changing our values in the face of threats from the Trump administration.”
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