Port Angeles – Clallam County Sheriff Brian King issued a statement Thursday in response to what he says are concerns regarding local law enforcement’s role in federal immigration enforcement.
King said he wants to clarify his position and provide insight into the legal complexities involved, and he says the majority of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs in our state share a unified stance on the matter.
The statement says that deportation, immigration enforcement, and related legal proceedings fall under the jurisdiction of federal courts and federal law enforcement agencies. He says local law enforcement’s primary responsibility is to address criminal violations that impact community safety and quality of life, and they do not have the authority to enforce federal immigration laws.
That said, local law enforcement agencies routinely collaborate with federal partners to address public safety threats, such as cartel-level drug trafficking organizations, human trafficking rings, and terrorist activities.
In 2019, the Washington State Legislature passed the Keep Washington Working Act (KWW), which prohibits local law enforcement agencies from engaging in civil immigration enforcement.
Under this law, local officers may not:
- Make civil immigration arrests or detain individuals solely at the request of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) or the Border Patrol, unless accompanied by a judicial warrant.
- Inquire about a person’s immigration status unless it is necessary for a criminal investigation.
- Share nonpublic personal information with federal immigration authorities in non-criminal matters.
- Participate in agreements or contracts that grant local officers the authority to enforce federal civil immigration laws.
KWW was enacted in multiple Chapters of the RCW, including the Washington Mutual Aid Peace Officers Powers Act (Chap. 10.93), as well as those governing the Attorney General’s Office (Chap. 43.10) and Administrative Departments and Agencies (Chap. 43.17). The full text can be found here.
To be clear, King says his office will honor court orders and warrants issued by a federal judge or magistrate, or a state court judge. He believes that individuals who commit serious crimes and threaten public safety should be prosecuted and, if undocumented, subject to deportation through legal processes.
He adds that no one in our community should fear calling 911 for help due to their immigration status or the status of their friends or loved ones.