Skip to content
All about politics. — Business — general-news — Local news — Seattle — Politics

Seattle Port expresses worry over immigration actions at Sea-Tac airport

Federal authorities are under scrutiny as airport detentions of individuals for prolonged durations persist, and commissioners are demanding explanations.

,   and  ASMedia
2 min read
Federal authorities are under pressure from commissioners due to individuals being detained for...
Federal authorities are under pressure from commissioners due to individuals being detained for lengthy periods at airports.

Seattle Port expresses worry over immigration actions at Sea-Tac airport

The Port of Seattle Commission has expressed deep concern over prolonged immigration detentions at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, following reports of individuals being held for extended periods. The commissioners are pressing federal officials for answers and are set to meet with Customs and Border Protection (CBP) local field office leadership to seek more transparency and detailed protocols.

Maximo Londonio, a legal permanent resident who immigrated to the U.S. at the age of 12, was detained for over four days at Sea-Tac before being transferred to the Northwest ICE Processing Center in Tacoma this week. Londonio was held after returning from a trip to the Philippines with his wife and daughter. Port of Seattle Commission President Toshiko Grace Hasegawa stated that the commission learned of Londonio's detainment through the community, not through official channels, adding that the Port cannot intervene in immigration enforcement decisions and does not normally receive notice of detentions.

Prolonged detention without proper process raises serious concerns and damages public trust, according to the release. The Port is seeking information on standards for communication and care from CBP. Customs and Border Protection officials did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

This incident is reminiscent of the detention of Lewelyn Dixon, a University of Washington lab technician, in February, who was also detained after returning from a trip to the Philippines. Similar reports have sparked fear and concern, particularly in the Filipino community, with Tanggol Migrante Network WA organizing a community rally in support of detained Filipino individuals at the Northwest ICE Processing Center.

According to CBP's National Standards on Transport, Escort, Detention, and Search, individuals should generally not be held for more than 72 hours in holding facilities, with every effort made to minimize detention times. It is essential that federal agencies, such as CBP and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), adhere to these standards to ensure the protection of individual rights and the maintenance of public trust.

  1. The University of Washington community is closely following the local news regarding prolonged immigration detentions, particularly after the case of Lab Technician Lewelyn Dixon who was detained for an extended period, similar to Maximo Londonio's recent detainment at the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport.
  2. Seattle's business and politics communities are demanding more transparency from federal agencies like CBP and ICE, after the Port of Seattle Commission's concern over ongoing immigration detentions and lack of communication from CBP on standards for detainee care.
  3. General-news outlets have reported growing concerns and public mistrust in Seattle and beyond, following incidents such as Maximo Londonio's isolation at Sea-Tac and Lewelyn Dixon's detention, which underscores the importance of adhering to CBP's National Standards on Transport, Escort, Detention, and Search to protect individual rights.

Read also:

Related

Latest