Commentary

OLYMPIA–Amid impending federal changes to immigration policy, state Senator Phil Fortunato is reintroducing legislation to protect Washingtonians by removing violent criminals who are in the state illegally. Senate Bill 5002 aims to repeal Washington's sanctuary status and remove barriers that currently shield violent offenders from being apprehended by federal authorities.

In 2019, Governor Jay Inslee signed an executive order that prohibited certain state agencies from cooperating with federal immigration authorities. This executive order laid the foundation for Washington becoming one of 11 "sanctuary states" after the passage of Senate Bill 5497. This policy has led to troubling incidents, including high-profile crimes committed by individuals in the state illegally. Just this past October, a Des Moines teen was brutally murdered by two undocumented immigrants with lengthy criminal records. They'd be shielded from deportation under current state law.

"While we can't change federal immigration law, we can take action to ensure that violent criminals in Washington illegally are removed from our streets," said Fortunato, R-Auburn. "The safety of Washington residents should always come first. We cannot continue to allow dangerous criminals to evade deportation due to sanctuary policies that shield them from federal law enforcement. Our courts and law enforcement should be working with federal authorities to remove these threats, not offering protection."

The reintroduced bill aims to close dangerous loopholes by repealing sanctuary state laws and administrative policies that limit cooperation between state law enforcement and federal immigration authorities. This includes eliminating policies that prohibit arrests of unauthorized migrants at court facilities and administrative guidance from the state Attorney General designed to limit immigration enforcement.

"...The Legislature further finds that immigrant communities are often the most victimized by illegal immigration and that criminal organizations involved in illegal immigration disproportionally target immigrant communities with criminal activity and flagrant abuses of human rights..." notes the legislation's intent section.

Fortunato emphasized that the issue is about public safety, not immigration. "It's time to stop conflating the discussion about illegal immigration with the need to remove dangerous criminals from our communities. Washington can no longer afford to be a sanctuary state-especially with the growing number of unauthorized migrants entering the country. The stakes are too high."

Senator Fortunato's legislation is a response to the escalating challenges posed by Washington's sanctuary policies, which have allowed violent criminals to evade justice and continue to pose a threat to public safety. With federal immigration changes on the horizon, the need for Washington to reassess its sanctuary stance has never been more urgent.