ACLU Washington
Thursday, May 23, 2019
“Growing up undocumented in Eastern Washington, I felt like my status was something to be ashamed of and that I needed to hide for my own safety. But I know that everyone deserves to be treated with dignity and respect, regardless of the accent with which we speak, where we came from, or what we may look like,” said Paúl Quiñonez Figueroa of the Washington Immigrant Solidarity Network. “Communities across the state will benefit from this important legislation, which affirms the inherent worth of all immigrants, of our labor and culture, and recognizes the right to an identity that is seen and valued – not feared and ostracized.”
The Keep Washington Working Act (Senate Bill 5497) enhances public safety and promotes fairness to immigrants and protects the privacy and civil rights of all Washington residents. This new law prohibits local law enforcement from routinely questioning individuals about immigration status, notifying ICE that a noncitizen is in custody, and detaining someone for civil immigration enforcement. It will be signed into law by Governor Jay Inslee today.
Leave a Reply