All Washington State agencies must comply with KWW
Keep Washington Working Act of 2019
This Washington law supports Washington State’s economy and immigrants’ role in the workplace.
KWW made numerous changes to state law for the stated purpose of “ensuring the state of Washington remains a place where the rights and dignity of all residents are maintained and protected in order to keep Washington working.” Among those changes, KWW restricts the extent to which local law enforcement agencies (LEAs) may participate in the enforcement of federal immigration laws. Because KWW is now in effect, LEAs have an obligation to comply with KWW’s requirements.
More than 1 in 6 residents of Yakima County are foreign-born. Yakima County’s population is young and vibrant, with a median age 5 years younger than Washington State as a whole.1 Community members in Yakima have a vital role in ensuring that public officials comply with the Keep Washington Working Act (KWW). It’s the law in Washington State.
Since May 21, 2019, all state agencies must comply with KWW. It is our responsibility to hold Yakima’s state and local officials accountable to comply with KWW. The policies submitted by agencies as of 3-16-2025 can be seen on the Washington State Attorney General’s website.
What the KWW Law Requires
- Protect All Washington Residents – KWW prohibits state agencies from inquiring into or conditioning services on an individual’s place of birth, immigration or citizenship status, unless expressly required under federal or state law. No one may be denied services, benefits, privileges or opportunities due to presence of an ICE detainer, notification request, or immigration warrant.
- Ensure Public Safety – Since May 21, 2019, local and state law enforcement agencies are PROHIBITED FROM:
- Detaining someone solely to determine immigration or citizenship status;
- Taking or holding someone in custody based on a civil immigration warrant;
- Providing non-public personal information to ICE or CBP, including people on probation;
- Giving ICE or CBP access to interview people in custody, unless the detained person has given written consent;
- Asking about or collecting information on immigration or citizenship status at arrest. Detained people are not required to disclose their place of birth, immigration or citizenship status, unless they choose to exercise their right to contact their consulate if they are a noncitizen;
- Providing ICE or CBP notification of a person’s date and/or time of release from custody;
- Entering into an agreement with the federal government to deputize local law enforcement agents to enforce federal immigration laws;
- Entering into an agreement with the federal government to detain noncitizens for ICE or CBP;
- Contract for, or accept for free, language services from ICE or CBP.
1Source: www.yakimavalleytrends.org
Compliance is a group effort
Community members in Yakima have a vital role to play in holding Yakima’s state and local officials accountable to comply with the bipartisan Keep Washington Working Act (“KWW”), chapter 440 RCW. Yakima County’s population is young and vibrant, with a median age nearly 5 years younger than Washington State as a whole. Approximately 20% of Yakima County residents are foreign-born, including naturalized citizens. Over 40% of our neighbors do not speak English at home.1 Our community must work together to ensure local officials are complying with the law.
KWW does not interfere with federal law enforcement
Washington law does not interfere with the ability of federal officials to enforce immigration law. Under KWW, state law prohibits local law enforcement from providing local aid in that work. Further, state law protects against local and state agencies from being compelled to engage in federal immigration enforcement.
On March 10, 2025, Washington state sued Adams County for illegally collaborating with federal immigration officials and aiding the Trump administration’s efforts to enlist local official for federal civil immigration work.2
The AG’s office provides guidance on complying with KWW. State agencies and facilities must either: (1) Adopt policies consistent with the AGO’s guidance; or (2) Notify the Attorney General and provide a copy of the agency’s policies to ensure compliance with KWW. To date, no Yakima County jurisdictions have provided notice or copies of compliance policies to the AG’s office.3
KWW protects all Washington residents
KWW prohibits state agencies from inquiring into or conditioning services on an individual’s place of birth, immigration or citizenship status, unless expressly required under federal or state law. No one may be denied services, benefits, privileges or opportunities due to presence of an ICE detainer, notification request, or immigration warrant. Local law enforcement is prohibited from stopping or detaining you to determine your immigration status.
Report suspected violations of KWW
YIRN’s Raid Response workgroup is gathering and verifying information about immigration enforcement in our area. If you believe local officials are violating your rights under KWW, please call the WAISN hotline at 1-844-724-3737
1 Source: www.yakimavalleytrends.org, 2023 data. The number of Yakima County residents becoming naturalized citizens has increased by 45% since 2010.
2 https://www.atg.wa.gov/news/news-releases/washington-state-sues-adams-county-stop-illegal-federal-immigration-enforcement
3 Source: https://www.atg.wa.gov/keep-washington-working-policies, visited 03/19/2025
Ley para Que Siga Trabajando Washington (KWW) 2019
Establece una política estatal de apoyo a la economía del Estado de Washington y al papel de los inmigrantes en el lugar de trabajo
El cumplimiento es un esfuerzo de grupo: Los miembros de la comunidad de Yakima desempeñan un papel vital a la hora de responsabilizar a los funcionarios estatales y locales de Yakima del cumplimiento de la ley bipartidista la ley para que siga trabajando Washington 2019 (KWW), capítulo 440 RCW. La población del condado de Yakima es joven y dinámica, con una media de edad casi 5 años inferior a la del estado de Washington en su conjunto. Aproximadamente el 20% de los residentes del condado de Yakima son nacidos en el extranjero, incluidos los ciudadanos naturalizados. Más del 40% de nuestros vecinos no hablan inglés en casa. Nuestra comunidad debe trabajar unida para garantizar que los funcionarios locales cumplen la ley.
KWW no interfiere con la aplicación de la ley federal: La ley de Washington no interfiere con la capacidad de los funcionarios federales para hacer cumplir la ley de inmigración. En virtud de la KWW, la ley estatal prohíbe a las fuerzas del orden locales prestar ayuda local en esa labor. Además, la ley estatal impide que los organismos locales y estatales se vean obligados a participar en la aplicación de la ley federal de inmigración.
El 10 de marzo de 2025, el estado de Washington demandó al condado de Adams por colaborar ilegalmente con los funcionarios federales de inmigración y ayudar a los esfuerzos de la administración Trump para alistar al funcionario local para el trabajo federal de inmigración civil.
La oficina del AG proporciona orientación sobre el cumplimiento de KWW. Las agencias e instalaciones estatales deben: (1) Adoptar políticas consistentes con la orientación de la AGO; o (2) Notificar al Fiscal General y proporcionar una copia de las políticas de la agencia para garantizar el cumplimiento de KWW. Hasta la fecha, ninguna jurisdicción del condado de Yakima ha
KWW protege a todos los residentes de Washington – KWW prohíbe que las agencias estatales pregunten o condicionen los servicios al lugar de nacimiento de una persona, su estatus migratorio o de ciudadanía, a menos que lo exija expresamente la ley federal o estatal. A nadie se le pueden negar servicios, beneficios, privilegios u oportunidades debido a la presencia de una orden de retención, solicitud de notificación u orden de inmigración del ICE. Se prohíbe a las fuerzas del orden locales que le paren o detengan para determinar su estado de inmigración.
Reporte sospechas de violaciones de KWW – El grupo de trabajo de Respuesta a Redadas de YIRN está reuniendo y verificando información sobre la aplicación de la ley de inmigración en nuestra área. Si usted cree que los funcionarios locales están violando sus derechos bajo KWW, por favor llame a la línea directa WAISN al 1-844-724-3737
Resources
Read the Bill – RCW 10.93.160 – Keep Washington Working Act of 2019
Washington State Attorney General’s Office – Keep Washington Working Act FAQ for Law Enforcement
Washington State Defender Association Summary of KWW
It’s important to monitor law enforcement’s compliance with the Keep Washington Working Act!
The Washington State Attorney General’s Office cited Cascade PBS’s investigative reporting and recent immigration enforcement survey of Washington’s county sheriffs as part of its lawsuit against Adams County for alleged violations of the state’s sanctuary laws. Read the legal complaint.
