Yesterday, the Port of Seattle Commission adopted a proclamation commemorating February 19 as the Day of Remembrance for Japanese American incarceration and an order I co-introduced to advance community protection and civil rights at Port of Seattle facilities.
It’s been 84 years since President Franklin Roosevelt signed Executive Order 9066, which authorized the forced removal and incarceration of over 120,000 individuals of Japanese ancestry.
Esteemed community members Stan Shikuma and Stephanie Tsukiko Numora-Henley helped read the proclamation into the record. Our proclamation honors the resilience of Japanese Americans who endured this injustice right here at home and draws a direct connection between the lessons of that dark chapter and the civil rights challenges we face today. It also calls for federal accountability for immigration enforcement practices and demands meaningful guardrails for federal agencies.
As the daughter of a labor leader and a descendant of Japanese Americans incarcerated during World War II, I understand what happens when government institutions fail to protect the dignity and rights of the people they serve. Amid heightened fear and uncertainty about federal immigration enforcement, our community must know where the Port of Seattle stands.
That is why I co-introduced Order 2026-03. This order addresses several key areas. You can read the full text of the order.
First, it restricts the use of Port property for civil immigration enforcement. Port property shall not be used for civil immigration detention facilities or for enforcement support operations, such as vehicle staging, equipment storage, or operational briefings. Additionally, new leases and agreements will not authorize these uses, and existing agreements will be reviewed for consistency with this order.
Second, the order expands access to “Know Your Rights” training and informational resources for Port tenants and their employees across our aviation and maritime facilities. These trainings will be conducted by qualified experts in immigration law and civil rights, with materials translated into commonly spoken languages at our facilities.
Third, the order strengthens employee response protocols. The Port’s Immigration Workgroup will maintain a rapid confirmation protocol to assess and verify reports of immigration enforcement activity at Port facilities, helping ensure safety and reduce public confusion.
Fourth, the Port will coordinate community protection efforts with regional partners, including the City of Seattle, King County, and the Northwest Seaport Alliance, to ensure consistent, transparent public-facing information. Read more about the regional coordination between Seattle Councilmember Alexis Mercedes Rinck and my efforts at the Port reported by King 5 Seattle a couple of weeks ago.
The Port of Seattle’s economic vitality depends on the contributions of the diverse communities that live and work throughout our region. Immigrant workers are essential to the continued success of Seattle- Tacoma International Airport (SEA), our maritime terminals, and the businesses operating on Port property. Policies that create fear among workers or deter visitors have real economic consequences for our region.
I’m grateful to Commissioner Mohamed for co-sponsoring this measure and to my fellow Commissioners for their support.
Through this action, the Port Commission has made clear that our airport and seaports will remain a welcoming international gateway that upholds state law, where everyone feels safe and welcome, and supports the dignity of all who live, work, and travel through our region.
All my best,
Toshiko Grace Hasegawa
Commissioner, Port of Seattle
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