Whatcom County Council considering temporary ban on new ICE detention centers

An ordinance proposed by Whatcom County Councilmember Jessica Rienstra would block — for at least a year — new ICE detention facilities in unincorporated areas through zoning and land-use rules.

The proposal comes amid renewed national debate over immigration enforcement and local detention contracts. In Whatcom County, the issue is complicated by the presence of the federal border crossing at Blaine and the historical role of local facilities in housing detainees.

Rienstra’s ordinance would use the county’s land-use authority to declare that immigration detention centers are not a permitted use in unincorporated Whatcom County. The temporary ban would give the council time to study the public-safety, fiscal, and environmental impacts of such facilities before any permanent decision.

Supporters argue the move protects county residents from unpredictable federal enforcement priorities and prevents Whatcom from being drawn into costly litigation or long-term contracts. They also point to concerns about traffic, emergency services, and the mental-health impacts of detention on neighboring communities.

Opponents say the measure is premature and could preemptively remove a federal tool without a specific proposal on the table. Some worry that blocking detention centers could concentrate immigration cases in other jurisdictions or shift federal activity in ways the county cannot control.

The ordinance would not affect existing contracts or facilities in incorporated cities, such as those in Bellingham or elsewhere. It applies only to the unincorporated parts of the county, where the council has direct zoning authority.

A public hearing is scheduled for next month, and council members are expected to debate amendments related to the duration of the ban, the scope of affected uses, and the process for lifting it.

The outcome could set a precedent for other Washington counties that have considered similar land-use restrictions but stopped short of formal action. For Whatcom, the decision also touches on the relationship between the county, its cities, and federal agencies operating along the northern border.