Snohomish city leaders are actively considering a proposal to designate the city as a sanctuary for unauthorized immigrants and the LGBTQ+ community, a move spearheaded by Councilman David Flynn. Flynn aims to initiate discussions surrounding protections for marginalized groups, reflecting the growing trend among cities like Olympia, which recently expanded its sanctuary laws. Olympia's new regulations not only protect unauthorized immigrants but also include provisions to safeguard the privacy of individuals regarding their birth gender. A workshop is expected to be scheduled soon to delve deeper into the proposal, as most council members expressed openness to learning more about the sanctuary city concept. Despite the positive momentum, there are significant concerns about federal funding cuts for cities that limit immigration enforcement, following actions from U.

S. Attorney General Pam Bondi. Flynn has voiced his apprehension regarding these developments, emphasizing that financial considerations should not overshadow the protection of vulnerable populations. The conversation surrounding sanctuary cities is particularly relevant in Washington state, which has seen a rise in its unauthorized population. As cities across the nation adopt similar measures to protect LGBTQ+ rights and immigration status, Snohomish's potential designation as a sanctuary city could have far-reaching implications.