Bellingham police receive Homeland Security grant for World Cup soccer fan zones
Bellingham is getting more than $230,000 from the federal government to provide security at local “fan zone” venues related to the FIFA World Cup later this month, but the city won’t have to assist ICE with immigration laws — despite contract language that requires that help.
Seattle and Vancouver, B.C., are among the 16 North American host cities for the World Cup, which is June 11 though July 19. Bellingham was selected as one of nine official fan zones in Washington, where watch parties and other World Cup festivities are planned.
Those events and the increased volume of people and traffic will create “significant security risks” locally, Police Deputy Chief of Operations Jay Hart told the City Council in a committee meeting Monday.
“This funding will enhance our ability to prepare for, protect and respond to these security threats or emergencies during the World Cup matches,” Hart told the council.
Grant funds will pay for overtime and extra staffing, along with two drones, protective equipment for the city’s bicycle patrol unit and a portable X-ray machine, he said.
Councilwoman Lisa Anderson said she was concerned about language in the contract with the Department of Homeland Security, which is providing the funds.
“I had a concern because it involves ICE and having to collaborate with them, which goes against the Keep Washington Working Act,” Anderson said.
Deputy City Attorney James Erb told the council that a federal District Court ruling prohibits the government from forcing Bellingham police to cooperate on immigration and diversity matters.
Bellingham is among 29 local governments that are suing the Department of Homeland Security, the federal Emergency Management Agency, and former DHS Secretary Kristi Noem. Their lawsuit, County of Santa Clara, et al., v. Noem, challenges the Trump administration’s attempts to condition disaster preparedness and anti-terrorism grants on political agendas.
Further, Bellingham is among more than 60 cities and counties who are suing the federal government to block the Trump administration’s effort to tie federal grants to unrelated policies on immigration and diversity.
“Accepting this grant funding does not mean that we will suddenly have to comply with the new federal rules with which we disagree and which a court has said we do not have to comply with,” Erb said.
