Thursday, October 1, 2026
Citing recent federal immigration enforcement efforts in other cities, Mayor Dontae Payne said Olympia is coordinating with Thurston County officials to ensure preparedness in the event of similar actions locally.
The mayor’s message came amid national outrage over the fatal shooting of Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old intensive care unit nurse at the Minneapolis VA Medical Center, by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents in Minneapolis on Jan. 24.
Pretti’s death is the second fatal incident involving federal immigration agents in Minneapolis this month.
Payne described the incident as the Trump administration’s “inhumane approach” to immigration enforcement.
“No family should lose a loved one this way, and no community should have to live in fear of the people who are supposed to uphold the law," said Payne at the opening of the city council meeting on Tuesday, Jan. 27. “What we are seeing is deeply disturbing. It demands accountability, transparency and leadership from every level of government.”
Payne said he has been working with Thurston County Commissioner Carolina Mejia to hold a meeting and coordinate with elected officials and staff. The idea is to ensure local leaders are aligned, prepared and clear on how to protect residents and public employees when federal actions put community members at risk.
Payne outlined several topics that will be covered in the meeting, including an overview of immigration law, clarification of jurisdictional roles and limitations, communication pathways between cities, schools, law enforcement and county departments, as well as lessons observed from other jurisdictions where federal actions have disrupted emergency response and impacted service delivery.
He said the goal is to ensure local governments respond collectively and lawfully with clear protocols for situational awareness, reporting and employee support should an incident occur.
Payne added city staffers are preparing public safety guidance, prioritizing the safety of residents. People are encouraged to call 911. Olympia Police Department officers will respond to a scene to verify warrants, maintain order, and ensure there are legitimate agents on the scene.
As a sanctuary city, Payne said Olympia police officers are prohibited from assisting ICE in any efforts to detain anyone in the community. Officers will remain on the scene to record incidents with their body-worn cameras. He added residents are also permitted to record an incident in public spaces from a distance, provided they do not physically intervene.
Payne informed the public that Olympia has signed onto an amicus brief led by the City of Boston and the Public Rights Project supporting a legal challenge to the deployment of federal immigration agents in Minneapolis and St. Paul.
It argues the surge is unlawful, unconstitutional and endangers communities. The brief was also supported by several other cities and counties.
Payne added he supports proposed actions by Washington Gov. Bob Ferguson and Attorney General Nick Brown to prepare for the worst should the federal government increase its presence in Thurston County.
“These actions are steps within our local control toward building knowledge, coordination and accountability needed to serve and protect everyone,” Payne said.
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Southsoundguy
Totally empty bloviating.
Wednesday, January 28 Report this
Overtaxed
It`s a shame that our city and State take the side of Criminals over our Law Enforcement Officers.
Wednesday, January 28 Report this
TheVirtualOne
Sanctuary cities and states should be outlawed and leaders supporting such policies removed from office.. Anyone who interferes with DHS operations should be arrested and charged. This vilification of our federal officers must stop. They are doing their jobs.
Wednesday, January 28 Report this
Quadlok
So, a few reminders:
Immigration violations are civil and not criminal.
Secret police are always the bad guys.
Per capita, ICE and CPB agents commit more crimes than undocumented immigrants.
Jesus has pretty clear guidance on how to treat the poor, foreigners, and prisoners, and nowhere does it say to drag them kicking and screaming off the street never to be seen again.
Wednesday, January 28 Report this
OlyMamaLlama
I’m thankful they’re preparing. The way ICE and CPB are behaving in other states towards citizens and noncitizens is shocking.
Wednesday, January 28 Report this
sharron.coontz
The act of being present in the United States in violation of the immigration laws is not,
standing alone, a crime. While federal immigration law does criminalize some actions that
may be related to undocumented presence in the United States, undocumented presence
alone is not a violation of federal criminal law. Thus, many believe that the term “illegal
alien,” which may suggest a criminal violation, is inaccurate or misleading.
Entering the United States without being inspected and admitted, i.e., illegal entry, is a
misdemeanor or can be a felony, depending on the circumstances. 8 U.S.C. § 1325. But many
undocumented immigrants do not enter the United States illegally. They enter legally but
overstay, work without authorization, drop out of school or violate the conditions of their visas
in some other way. Current estimates are that approximately 45% of undocumented
immigrants did not enter illegally. See Pew Hispanic Center, Modes of Entry for the
Unauthorized Migrant Population [May 22, 2006].
Undocumented presence in the United States is only criminally punishable if it occurs after an
individual was previously formally removed from the United States and then returned without
permission.
Wednesday, January 28 Report this
TheVirtualOne
Quadlik,
- Immigration violations can be civil AND criminal, In both cases, they are subject to deportation. That’s what is happening now.
-There are no secret police officers involved in these operations.
- Just a flat out lie that ICE and CPB commit more crimes than illegals.
- Jesus has nothing to do with enforcement of immigration laws.
Wednesday, January 28 Report this
EdieMG
Trump supporters will support ICE behavior.
Wednesday, January 28 Report this
Quadlok
TheVirtualOne-
First, try to spell peoples' names right first of all.
Second, yes, someone else addressed that, although I would argue that its a distinction without a difference in most cases. As for the need to deport people, why? They pay taxes, contribute to the community, build our houses, cook our food, and wipe our grandparents asses.
Third, what do you call masked agents that refuse to identify themselves or check in with local authorities?
Fourth, thank you for making my point. Our immigration laws are deeply unchristian. They only make any sense when one understands they are explicitly discriminatory and meant to keep the US as white as possible. They are bad laws. If you support them you are either ignorant, racist, or stupid.
Wednesday, January 28 Report this
TheVirtualOne
Quadlik - No more time to be wasted on your childish nonsense.
Wednesday, January 28 Report this
Quadlok
A hit dog hollers. Bye, TheVirtualOne. Hope your nurse remembers to change your brief before bed, don't wanna get sores on your panty line.
Wednesday, January 28 Report this
treezza
We wouldn't be having these problems if people would respect those doing their jobs, rather than making it nearly impossible to do so in such chaotic conditions. It's OK to protest peacefully, but do so away from where the agents are trying to facilitate an arrest IN ACCORDANCE WITH OUR LAWS! Do not encroach into their space--keep clear. If people would do this, I doubt anyone would have been shot recently. DO YOU REALLY WANT TO LIVE IN A NATION WITHOUT LAWS?! I know the criminals do, but do those of you who are generally law-abiding realize what you're wishing for with your behavior?
It's time for people to take responsibility for their actions and stop blaming everyone else when things go bad.
From my recent research, by the way, there have been way more deportations attributed to previous administrations than what's been happening with the current administration. Why were there no protests against those?
Wednesday, January 28 Report this
Quadlok
Treezza-
Goodness, where to begin...
Your stance seems to be "obey all laws." What if a law is unjust? For example, only a few generations ago, women could not vote, and they could be beaten and rapes by their husbands with no recourse unless their family believed them and could hire a divorce lawyer. Women protested, they fought the police, staged industrial actions, even committed terrorist acts.
Do you believe that every one of those who fought for women's rights were in the wrong every time they defied the law?
You also appear to have an all or nothing understanding of Law itself. A common affliction on the political right. Laws are neither monolithic or immutable. Laws are a reflection of the values of the society that enforces them. Personally, I don't like living in a society which brutalizes people solely because of where they were born or what they look like.
Last point, what "research?" You watched CNN for 5 minutes at the gym? And there were protests, they just weren't as publicized since the government at the time didn't feel the need to unleash roving packs of armed men onto the streets to deport people.
Wednesday, January 28 Report this
terry
Jurisdictions coordinating with federal officials are having relatively few problems getting criminal aliens off the street. Conversely, sanctuary cities are creating unsafe conditions for citizens as clearly demonstrated in Minneapolis. In WA public officials don’t enjoy sovereign immunity for malfeasance which means impeding federal apprehensions can result in personal liability. A harmed citizen will eventually bring a civil/criminal claim for restitution and plaintiff attorneys will have struck gold.
Wednesday, January 28 Report this
TheVirtualOne
Some light reading:
https://www.dhs.gov/wow
Be careful what you wish for Quidlick.
Wednesday, January 28 Report this
Quadlok
TheVirtualOne-
I thought you were far to busy to waste any more time on me?
Also, a link for you:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Propaganda
Wednesday, January 28 Report this
Quadlok
Everyone defending the regime's policies should stop for a moment and consider why everything they say matches so closely to the language used to excuse and minimize ****.
Wednesday, January 28 Report this
Quadlok
Oh, that word gets censored? For fucks sake...
Sexual assault? Indecent Liberties? How much do I need to obfuscate my language?
Wednesday, January 28 Report this
Chris_R
I'm not much of a fan of Payne, but I must say I like this comment from him: "He added residents are also permitted to record an incident in public spaces from a distance, provided they do not physically intervene." Thank you for your attention, and now Quadlok can get back to the hysterical rhetoric.
Thursday, January 29 Report this
Quadlok
Chris_R-
Hysterical? Oh! You're using it in the traditional fashion, discounting another human being wholesale rather than even contemplate that anything you do or believe isn't 100% good and correct.
Thursday, January 29 Report this
bonaro
All of the energy and anger being directed toward ICE is a complete waste of time. No rational person would presume that yelling, whistles and signs will have any effect on ICE at all. Escalating that to violent protest, blocking roads, throwing things will only result in more ICE agent being sent. There is no version of this that will result in ICE retreating.
You do not have the protected Right to protest. Rampaging in the streets, property damage and personal assaults are illegal and the 1A will not protect you. Under the 1A you have the Right to "peacefully assemble". Bringing a gun to a protest that is already violent is not peaceful.
Sanctuary cities and states are also illegal. They violate Federal law which supersedes State law due to the supremacy clause of the US Constitution.
The best thing to do is stay out of the way and let ICE do their job, which is, enforce the law.
Thursday, January 29 Report this
TheVirtualOne
Adding Pottymouth to a running list of my earlier point about your Childish comments, Quadslick.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coprolalia
Your behavior speaks volumes about what you are. Better get to church on Sunday and ask for Jesus’s forgiveness.
Thursday, January 29 Report this
Quadlok
Bonaro-
Your GED in law is not needed in here, nor is your obvious desire to be dominated.
TheVirtualOne-
I thought you were leaving?
Thursday, January 29 Report this
Esther
Wow! The inability of so many who made comments not to see the brutality and lawlessness that ICE agents use, their blatant racism that targets brown people, the incredible lies made by the federal government that clearly contradict the video evidence and contradict its claims it is going after “the worst of the worst” is truly disturbing.
Please watch the videos showing 4-5 or more masked armed men jumping on and harming peaceful citizens who are simply observing. If that’s not excessive force, what is? If shooting a man on the ground surrounded by agents 10x is not murder, what is? Please believe your own eyes and think about if that’s how you want law enforcement to treat our people. And if that’s okay with you, please remember the Golden rule to treat others as you would want to be treated.
Thursday, January 29 Report this
wolfmanner
Too bad we cannot deport those low life protestors. They are the ones who have destroyed Olympia along with the insane city council and halfwit mayor.
Thursday, January 29 Report this
JW
With 100-200 agents, ICE could probably do a Thurston County surge in a week maybe even a weekend.
Thursday, January 29 Report this
Kruz81
Stupid ideas are exactly why we are in this place to begin with. With the Biden era immigration policies allowing for all of these people to flood our country to increase their voting block we are now somehow stuck with them? ICE and others will come here they will start scooping up the criminals and hopefully everyone else that is not here lawfully. Eventually the rest of us are going to get tired of you all protecting these criminals and others and will start showing up to counter you. The idea is that this is just something that you can do and get away with will eventually end. As you can see for some of you morons it has occurred sooner than later. FAFO
Thursday, January 29 Report this
Snevets
Thank you Mayor Payne & Gov. Ferguson for addressing this important matter. I am grateful for not only living in a Sanctuary city but also to know that our public officials are progressive thinkers.
To those of you who have commented here you do have the right to say what you want because of your 1st amendment but if your complaint is that we are a Sanctuary city, that our elected officials aren't favoring YOUR ideals of what our city should be please do us all a favor and find somewhere else to live so we can make room for more of our fellow human beings who believe in our freedoms, have empathy for each other & believe in justice when our rights have been informed upon.
Thursday, January 29 Report this
Shushu
This situation that Trump created is reminiscent of pre WW11 Germany. Create fear and hatred of a minority. Create riots and disconnect. Create a politically based enforcement agency aka ICE aka Brown Shirts. Create a dictatorship.
Thursday, January 29 Report this
Porter
All of this banter is ridiculous nonsense. Meet me at Capitol Lake with your greencard tomorrow at 10am and I'll buy you lunch. - ICE agent #666
Thursday, January 29 Report this
Bokooo
I for one support federal enforcement. If the state and local authorities enforced the law, we wouldn't need federal assistance. Welcome to the left coast.
Thursday, January 29 Report this
AliceV
The vast majority of immigrants are not Trump’s “worst of the worst.” Most are working, law-abiding, tax-paying seekers of a better life. Many have served/or currently serve in the military. They are an indispensable part of our hospital patient care, as well as the hospitality, construction and agriculture industries, among others. The legal obligations of reporting their status has been well documented. Children should not be rounded up and placed in detention. People who have been here for decades, raised families and have been productive members of society should not be flown to prisons in other countries. And those who protest the mistreatment of human beings should not be shot and killed. This is insane.
Thursday, January 29 Report this
wolfmanner
Shushu, What planet do you live on ? If it was Trumps Nazi positions you would not be posting here. Nor would there be protestors. All of those protestors including you would have been locked up. Brown Shirts, Ice rioting. LMAO. Very low IQ you carry on ya shoulders.
Friday, January 30 Report this