The head of the union representing Seattle police officers is pushing back against a directive from Democrat Mayor Katie Wilson ordering local officers to monitor and build cases around federal immigration enforcement.
Wilson ordered Seattle police to "investigate, verify, and document" activity by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) for possible prosecution — a step Fox 13 Seattle reported mirrors directives pushed by Chicago's Democrat Mayor Brandon Johnson.
Seattle Police Officers Guild (SPOG) President Mike Solan responded to Wilson on Friday in a post on X, saying he won't allow officers to be drawn into a political fight with federal law enforcement.
"Toothless virtue signaling rhetoric like this has already cost two people their lives," Solan wrote, pointing to the fatal shootings of Alex Pretti and Renee Nicole Good in the Minneapolis–St. Paul area during immigration enforcement operations.
"The concept of pitting two armed law enforcement agencies against each other is ludicrous, and will not happen," he said. "I will not allow SPOG members to be used as political pawns."
The dispute comes as allegations of welfare fraud tied to Somali-run day care centers have gained national attention.
Citizen journalists began examining Somali-run day care operations in Washington state after independent journalist Nick Shirley posted a 42-minute viral video showing visits to similar centers in the Minneapolis area, drawing national attention.
City Journal reported on suspected fraud in Minnesota in November, prompting the Department of Homeland Security to deploy hundreds of agents from multiple agencies to the Twin Cities area.
Wilson has publicly dismissed calls for a probe. In a KOMO interview posted on X on Jan. 7, she argued the controversy is being used to target immigrants.
"This whole issue is not really about fraud, right? It's about dividing and conquering," Wilson said. "It's about making an immigrant community a target, right?"
"There's no reason to assume, based on the identity of a day care operator, that their small business is doing anything wrong," she added.
Wilson and Solan have sparred before, including over Seattle's approach to drug arrests.
Solan criticized a policy requiring diversion of drug users to "supportive social services," calling it "suicidal empathy," while Wilson insisted there was no change in policy.
During her mayoral campaign, Wilson backed government-run grocery stores and proposals that would prohibit privately owned stores from closing. She also pledged that "equity" would be "the foundation of how Seattle governs" and said she would "ensure that equity is embedded in every aspect of my administration."
Nicole Weatherholtz ✉
Nicole Weatherholtz, a Newsmax general assignment reporter covers news, politics, and culture. She is a National Newspaper Association award-winning journalist.
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