Immigrant Community Resources

Kirkland City Values

This page is intended to serve as a resource for the immigrant community.

On January 3, 2017, the City Council adopted Resolution R-5240, "Declaring Kirkland as a Safe, Inclusive and Welcoming City for All People." Kirkland is a welcoming place to live, work and play that highly values diversity and is respectful, fair, and inclusive. The City is also committed to providing neighborhoods and businesses that meet the needs of a variety of incomes, ages and lifestyles, through community engagement that creates a sense of belonging through shared values.

In 2025, the City of Kirkland became a Certified Welcoming Place by Welcoming America. Certified Welcoming is a formal designation for cities and counties that have created policies and programs reflecting their values and commitment to immigrant inclusion. In Kirkland, City Hall 4 All is an annual celebration for the work in communities to become welcoming places for all in Kirkland during Welcoming Week.

The City of Kirkland is committed to protecting and serving everyone who resides in, works in, or visits Kirkland without discrimination based on race, religion, color, national origin, sex, age, income or economic status, political affiliation, military status, sexual orientation, or physical, mental or sensory ability.

Note: The City of Kirkland is not proactively releasing information to other agencies.

Your Rights Explained

What should I do if immigration officials approach me or knock on my door and want to talk to me?
Read this article by the National Immigration Law Center. Disclaimer: This Know Your Rights resource provides general information. It is not legal advice. It is not tailored to your situation. Talk to an immigration lawyer for legal advice about your specific situation. The information in this article was not created or verified by the City of Kirkland; questions about it should be referred to the National Immigration Law Center rather than City staff.

Where can I find an immigration lawyer and other resources?

Legal Resources and Advocacy

• Eastside Legal Assistance Program (ELAP) is a nonprofit dedicated to working with people facing crises that need a legal solution.
• Washington State Bar Association (WSBA) can assist with finding legal help.
• King County Bar Association has a lawyer referral service.
• American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Washington provides information, assistance and legal information to immigrants and refugees in Washington state.
• Northwest Immigrant Rights Project promotes justice by defending and advancing the rights of immigrants through direct legal services, systemic advocacy, and community education.
• Washington Immigrant Solidarity Network is the largest immigrant justice network in Washington that convenes and cultivates a statewide transnational solidarity coalition to protect and advance the power and rights of all immigrant and refugee communities.
• Legal Counsel for Youth and Children protects the interests and safety of youth in Washington by advancing their legal rights through direct legal representation, strong community partnerships, and systemic advocacy.
• Immigrant Safety Planning Resources for Youth and Children helps parents plan for the care of their child(ren) (with or without status) in the event that a parent is unable to care for their child, particularly if the parent is detained and deported.

Local Community Support

• Washington state’s Department of Social and Health Services’ (DSHS) Office of Refugee and Immigrant Assistance provides a broad array of programs and services to help refugees and immigrants achieve economic self-sufficiency and cultural integration into Washington ‘s communities.
• King County Library System Welcoming Center provides resources and information for immigrants, refugees, and new arrivals through their Welcoming Ambassadors program.
• Eastside For All supports in English and Spanish for people experiencing hate crimes and discrimination in East King County.
• Safe Haven is a monthly group and resources for advocates, organizations, school districts, and cities providing services to immigrant communities in East King County
• 4 Tomorrow has helped thousands of families & individuals in East King County with housing stability & family support services, aiding in immigration & mental health systems navigation, & providing direct economic recovery assistance regardless of how they identify or their status.
• King County Promotores Network fosters strong connections between bilingual/bicultural Promotores and community service providers across King County and beyond
• Africans on the Eastside is an ad-hoc group comprised of parents, youth scholars, community members, and grassroots organizations who have come together to actively address the impacts of institutional racism and racial inequity, particularly on the eastside of Seattle
• Indian American Community Services serves the Indian American community through programs, services, and advocacy for people of all ages and life stages.
• Muslim Community Network Associationprovide year-round religious services and educational/spiritual programming for Muslims (and those seeking to learn about Islam), as well as addressing the religious needs of the community from birth to celebrating weddings to honoring final rites.
• Immigrant Women's Community Center is a non-profit that provides community building, training, and direct services, primarily for immigrant women and their families, promoting financial independence, emotional health, and physical well-being.
• BigHug is a non-profit organization dedicated to fostering economic growth and sustainability within the Korean American community.
• Ayan Maternity Healthcare Support is a community-based organization led by Black immigrant women, dedicated to ensuring that every mother has the culturally appropriate support she needs
• Youth Eastside Services is the leading behavioral health service provider for children and youth, ages birth to 22, and their families in East King County, providing prevention, diagnosis, and treatment for mental health and substance use disorders, life stressors and crises, and stress-related physical symptoms.

Kirkland Police Department

The Kirkland Police Department members make personal and professional commitments to equal enforcement of the law and equal service to the public. Confidence in this commitment will increase the effectiveness of this department in protecting and serving the entire community and recognizing the dignity of all persons, regardless of their immigration status.

As stated in Kirkland Policy 411:

Officers shall not inquire into the immigration or citizenship status of an individual except where the inquiry relates to a legitimate law enforcement purpose that is unrelated to the enforcement of a civil immigration law.

Click here to read more on Policy 411 on the Kirkland Police Department's Immigration Policy.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will police report me or give my information to immigration authorities?
Under state law and policy (Washington State RCW 10.93.160), the Department is restricted from sharing information with immigration officials, except under certain circumstances as required by law, such as a valid court order.

Will the police help immigration officials with raids or other operations?
The Kirkland Police Department would not typically be involved in federal immigration operations at all. If requested, the Department would provide only support services, such as traffic control or peacekeeping efforts for public safety reasons.