Bellingham City Council unanimously passed a resolution that called for an end to “lawless” immigration enforcement in a “moment of fear, grief, anger, and uncertainty” on Feb. 23, 2026.
City Council Member Michael Lilliquist said he would support the resolution for its alignment with the city’s values and his duty to uphold the Constitution as part of his oath of office.
“There's something seriously mistaken … and immoral about the way federal policies are pursued,” Lilliquist said.
The resolution was drafted by City Council Members Daniel Hammill and Edwin “Skip” Williams. Hammill introduced the resolution at the Jan. 26 City Council meeting. At that meeting, he said it was created in response to the events in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
During President Donald Trump's second term, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents, who operate under the Department of Homeland Security, have shifted to a stricter approach to immigration enforcement as part of mass deportation efforts.
In early January, protests occurred nationwide in response to multiple fatal shootings conducted by federal agents, most notably the deaths of Minneapolis residents Renée Good and Alex Pretti.
Hammill and Williams presented a draft to members at the Feb. 9 City Council meeting and voted to refer the resolution to the Public Health, Safety and Justice Committee for review before approval.
The resolution would reflect Bellingham's history, reassurance for the community and encouragement for other municipalities to take similar steps, said Williams. He opted not to include specific steps for added flexibility.
“This is something totally new that we are dealing with,” Williams said. “At least we can sit down and figure out how we're going to deal with it as a city … committed to these values.”
The Whatcom County Council also adopted a resolution that affirmed the rights of residents in response to the federal government’s immigration policies on Jan. 13, 2026.
The Bellingham City Council resolution described past municipal actions that protected the rights of residents, dating back to a 2017 ordinance that affirmed that the city police would not enforce federal immigration regulations.
Unlike an ordinance, a resolution is not a permanent rule of conduct. It is an expression of the governing body’s intent or views.
Some council members were skeptical about the purpose of the condemnation at first. Council Member Lisa Anderson said she questioned creating a resolution after adopting a similar one in June 2025, which affirmed that all residents have the right to live free of discrimination, violence and systematic barriers.
“I do appreciate this one for what it is,” Anderson said. “(It’s) marking time so that people can look back and know … (where the) greater community stands.”
The council approved amendments to the draft, changing wording and clarifying sections during their nearly 45-minute discussion.
The city council had struggled with enacting immigration policy in the past few months. City Council Member and immigration attorney Hannah Stone highlighted the immigration advisory board and calls for an immigrant resource center as two recent examples.
“Some community members will question, ‘That feels like big words that we don't know if the city is going to deliver on,’” Stone said. “I want to make sure we're mindful of how we're able to deliver on that going forward.”
Allison Lam (she/her) is a city news reporter for The Front. She is a junior public relations pre-major with a communication studies minor. In her free time, she enjoys crocheting and watching sitcoms. She can be reached at allisonlam.thefront@gmail.com.
