The following is a joint statement from all Port of Seattle Commissioners:
"Port of Seattle Commissioners are deeply concerned by reports that individuals have been held in U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) custody at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) for extended periods of time. Immigration enforcement is entirely within federal jurisdiction, and we are working with our congressional delegation on these matters. However, we do expect the federal agencies in our airport to provide fair and respectful treatment of detainees that follow legal and policy requirements. Prolonged detention without appropriate process not only raises serious concerns — it undermines public trust.
As commissioners, we are committed to pursue every available action to ensure that SEA Airport remains a place that upholds dignity, justice, and transparency.
The Port of Seattle has secured a meeting with CBP’s local field office leadership where we will request information on standards for communications regarding individuals held for an extended period of time, standards of care for individuals detained for extended period of time, and strategies to communicate transparently with the Port and community members and families.
According to CBP's most recently published National Standards on Transport, Escort, Detention, and Search (TEDS), “Detainees should generally not be held for longer than 72 hours in CBP hold rooms or holding facilities. Every effort must be made to hold detainees for the least amount of time required for their processing, transfer, release, or repatriation as appropriate and as operationally feasible.”
We believe in transparency, and we will continue to press for clear answers from CBP on these matters."
