Building belonging: your rights, resources and help
The City is committed to ensuring everyone feels safe and welcome. We’ve compiled this page to help you connect with local community organizations and resources.
Coming together as a community
Recently, Mayor Anne McEnerny-Ogle, Councilor Diana Perez, and Chief of Police Troy Price met with representatives from Vancouver Public Schools and Evergreen School District. The discussion covered how the City and school districts collaborate to ensure students and families feel safe and supported in Vancouver.
The information and opinions shared by these resources represent their viewpoints.
Understanding your rights
- Know Your Rights: Civil Immigration Enforcement in Washington | Washington AG
- Immigrant Students’ Rights to Attend Public Schools
- Know Your Rights | NWIRP.org
- Know Your Rights | American Civil Liberties Union
- Know Your Rights No Matter Who is President – NILC
- Protected Areas FAQs | U.S. Customs and Border Protection
Legal assistance
- Clark County Volunteer Lawyers Program (CCVLP)
- Home | Northwest Justice Project
- WashingtonLawHelp.org
- Legal Counsel for Youth and Children
Tools
These documents are to inform and assist; they should not be considered legal advice.
Role of Vancouver Police Department in immigration enforcement
The Vancouver Police Department will continue to serve all members of our community with professionalism and compassion. VPD will not undertake immigration-related investigations or sweeps and will not routinely inquire into the immigration status of persons officers come into contact with. Officers will not contact, detain, or arrest an individual solely for a suspected violation of civil immigration laws.
VPD policy regarding immigration enforcement is governed by RCW 43.10.315 and The Immigration and Nationality Act. These laws specifically define immigration enforcement as a federal responsibility. State and local law enforcement agencies do not have the authority to enforce civil immigration violations. VPD will continue to request identification from persons they come into contact with when appropriate. They will not request specific documents related to a person’s civil immigration status unless this information is specifically relevant to the crime being investigated, such as a bias crime. As specified in Vancouver Police Policy 428, any request for assistance from Immigration and Customs Enforcement will be addressed by a police supervisor.