Council affirms Bellingham will protect undocumented immigrants

The city will continue to shield undocumented residents from federal immigration laws, even though the City Council is not officially designating Bellingham as a sanctuary city.

The council voted unanimously to do so on Monday night, capping months-long discussions over the issue and after meetings with affected communities and immigrant rights advocacy groups, including Community to Community Development, Western Washington University Blue Group and the Racial Justice Coalition.