King County Metro’s commitment to our immigrant customers

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At King County Metro, we occasionally receive questions related to our handling of personal information and whether we coordinate with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) on immigration-related matters.

Metro, ORCA, Sound Transit and other ORCA transit agencies do not share customers’ personal information with ICE or the TSA. This includes—but is not limited to—information shared while acquiring or updating ORCA cards, other transit passes or transit fares; and information provided to a fare inspector, transit customer service staff member, transit police officer, transit security officer, or other transit contractor, employee or website.

Furthermore, unless otherwise required by state law, federal law or court order, King County Code 2.15.010 states:

• “No one can be denied county services because of their citizenship or immigration status.”
• “Employees, agents, or agencies of King County cannot inquire about or request from a member of the public information about citizenship, immigration status, or the nation of origin of any person.”
• “All agents of King County are prohibited from verbally abusing people by threatening them with calling ICE or with taking other immigration-related action.”
• “King County agents cannot maintain or share personal information unless it is needed to provide services. However, they are permitted to send information about citizenship or immigration status to other agencies in the process of providing services.”
• “King County agents cannot spend time, money, or other resources to facilitate the civil enforcement of federal immigration law. However, a county employee is not prohibited from sending to, or receiving from, federal immigration authorities, the citizenship or immigrations status of a person.”

Transit police officers, transit security officers, and other transit employees and contractors will not ask about or request information related to citizenship, immigration status or nation of origin. To help riders more easily identify transit police officers and transit security officers, please view the Office of Law Enforcement Oversight’s “Community guide to law enforcement on King County Metro Transit and Sound Transit Rail.”

Please note, however, that ICE and TSA officers also can travel on transit provided they meet our rider expectations. The Northwest Immigrant Rights Project provides “Know Your Rights” resources in several languages that may be useful. These rights apply to everyone regardless of citizenship.