Immigrant Rights Observatory
The UWCHR's Immigrant Rights Observatory project uses public records research and community partnerships to monitor implementation of and compliance with state laws protecting immigrant rights.
The UWCHR's Immigrant Rights Observatory project uses public records research and community partnerships to monitor implementation of and compliance with state laws protecting immigrant rights.
In 2019 and 2020, the Washington State Legislature passed two laws regarding immigrant rights. The Keep Washington Working Act (KWW), which came into force on May 21, 2019, restricts various forms of collaboration and information-sharing with federal immigration enforcement by police, sheriffs, jails, and local and state agencies. The Courts Open to All Act (COTA), which came into force on June 11, 2020, prohibits federal civil arrests at or near courthouses in Washington state, and bars certain forms of information-sharing by court employees and prosecutors with federal immigration authorities including Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP).
Some important features of the new laws include the following…
- KWW and COTA, in conjunction, prohibit Washington’s law enforcement agencies, jails, prosecutors, and courthouses from activities including:
- Collecting, or sharing with federal immigration authorities, information regarding individuals’ birthplace and immigration or citizenship status (unless necessary for an ongoing criminal investigation or pursuant to a court order or judicial warrant);
- Allowing federal immigration authorities to access nonpublic areas of their facilities for the purpose of civil immigration enforcement activity;
- Detaining individuals solely on the basis of suspected civil immigration violations;
- Holding individuals on behalf of federal immigration authorities; or
- Entering into agreements or contracts with DHS to detain immigrants or perform immigration enforcement actions on its behalf.
- Instead, Washington state and local government institutions and agencies are instructed to:
- Protect the private information of Washington residents from unjustified examination by federal immigration authorities;
- Improve access to state and local government facilities;
- Foster an atmosphere of inclusivity and mutual trust; and
- Review policies that may put Washington residents at increased risk of unwarranted contact with federal immigration authorities.
- KWW does not stop at addressing the relationship between federal immigration authorities and local courts, jails, and law enforcement—its provisions also touch on healthcare facilities, schools, shelters, and over 20 state agencies.
- The Washington State Attorney General’s Office has published model policies, guidance, and training recommendations based on the new laws. You can find them here.
These new laws are complex and far-reaching. Join the UW Center for Human Rights and our community partners as we explore the inequities that the new laws seek to address and as we examine the results of their implementation.
The UWCHR’s Immigrant Rights Observatory has been designed and implemented in in partnership with advocacy and community groups including the Washington Defender Association, Northwest Immigrant Rights Project, the ACLU of Washington, Columbia Legal Services, OneAmerica, and the Washington Immigrant Solidarity Network.
Community members can report potential collaboration with federal immigration enforcement activities by Washington state, county, or local agencies to the Washington Immigrant Solidarity Network hotline by calling 1-844-724-3737.
Faculty Leads
Angelina Snodgrass Godoy
Professor, International Studies and Law, Societies & Justice
