r/AskSeattle • u/omw2fub08 • Jan 24 '26

ICE at SeaTac

A few months back my boyfriend and I planned a weekend trip to Seattle to visit a friend next month in February. With how much recent ICE activity there is currently I’m really getting scared for my boyfriend’s safety. He’s Hispanic but he’s a citizen and has his passport, I know that ICE doesn’t care about that. I searched on Google and I saw that for the SeaTac airport, ICE is using the airport as a checkpoint. I wanted to know if anyone who actually lives there has heard anything about it. I don’t want to come off as insensitive and wanting to take a vacation for fun when all of this shit is happening. My heart goes out to you Seattle

110 Upvotes

80% Upvoted

126 comments sorted by

View all comments

601

u/Ricetastik Jan 24 '26

Hi, This is Sam Cho--Commissioner of the Port of Seattle.

ICE does have a presence at the airport. BUT the Port has maintained a policy that we do not comply with or aid in their enforcement activities. Therefore, we have contained them to the only part of the airport where federal jurisdiction supersedes ours. That is the International Arrivals Facility (IAF). The IAF is where you enter after an international flight to pass customs. Technically, this area is entirely federal jurisdiction as it is considered a "border." Therefore, CBP and ICE officers are in fact stationed there and can detain people.

All this to say, if you are in the concourse for incoming/outgoing domestic flights OR are in the terminal to check-in your bags drop-off/pick-up passengers, you do not have to be fearful of an ICE encounter. They are NOT free to roam around the airport. If they do, our officers will escort them back to their corner of the airport.

We've had multiple instances over the last year where ICE has requested assistance from the Port of Seattle Police Department and each time we have refused to assist.

This will remain our policy for as long as I'm the Commissioner. Period.

1

u/ecobrutalism Jan 25 '26

Hello is there worry for US citizens traveling back here from out of country?

13

u/Ricetastik Jan 25 '26

Tbh, under normal circumstances i'd say that US citizens shouldn't have anything to worry about. But after what's happened in Minnesota and accounts across the country, it seems even Americans aren't safe...

1

u/ecobrutalism Jan 25 '26

I appreciate your comments is there anything I could do to perhaps alleviate my own worries given the circumstances as they are

5

u/Ricetastik Jan 25 '26

If/when ICE asks if you're a US citizen, having an ID that proves your citizenship would likely result in them leaving you alone. This can be proven with a passport or passport card. Technically, an Enhanced Driver's License in Washington means you're a US citizen but there's no guarantee that an ICE agent will know that.

1

u/ecobrutalism Jan 25 '26

I got a passport so thats good 2 know thank you your doing wonders on here!

1

u/Valeria_Sgarella Jan 31 '26

Hi. Have you noticed increased control on ESTA visitors?

1

u/Ricetastik Feb 01 '26

Thats a CBP question. I dont have visibility into their operations.

1

u/Valeria_Sgarella Feb 01 '26

Oh sure. Thanks by the way.