Outrage and concern over recent ICE activity have prompted a strong response from Tacoma Mayor Anders Ibsen, who addressed the community's unrest following tragic events in Minneapolis and Portland. In a statement obtained by Tacoma's official website, Mayor Ibsen condemned the shootings by ICE agents in Portland and expressed solidarity with those demanding justice.
Mayor Ibsen is adamant about Tacoma's unique approach to public safety, which values trust between community members and their local government—a principle he believes to be violated by the recent federal enforcement actions. "In Tacoma, we know that real public safety is built on trust between neighbors, and trust between people and their local government," said Ibsen. Reflecting on the need for united local response, he stressed that trust is earned, not dictated from Washington D.C., particularly in crisis times.
Ibsen's position includes support for recent city legislation aimed at keeping federal civil enforcement out of local affairs. He backed the Tacoma City Council's adoption of Resolutions 41627 and 41817, measures that restrict the use of city resources in federal immigration enforcement operations. Ibsen described these resolutions as a necessary line drawn to safeguard local control over public safety and space management.
Asserting his responsibilities as Mayor, Ibsen declared his commitment to uphold the constitutional rights of Tacoma residents and oppose what he perceives as federal overreach. "As Mayor, my duty is to the people of Tacoma," Ibsen told Tacoma's official website, elaborating on his promise to keep decision-making about safety and accountability firmly in the community's hands.
This local backlash against ICE's actions comes amid a broader national debate on the role of federal agencies in local policing and the rights of immigrants within America’s cities. Tacoma's move to distance itself from federal immigration enforcement represents a commitment to ensuring that the city's residents feel protected and heard, regardless of immigration status.
