Fortunato bill would end sanctuary cities

OLYMPIA – Washington shouldn’t be a sanctuary state for undocumented immigrants, and its cities shouldn’t be allowed to declare themselves sanctuary cities, a Republican state senator running for governor said Monday.

Sen. Phil Fortunato, of Auburn, filed a proposal for the upcoming 2020 legislative session that he said would require state and local law enforcement officials to help enforce federal immigration laws. Currently, state and local officials require warrants to release people arrested for local violations into the custody of U.S Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents.

“These are bad people doing bad things,” Fortunato said minutes before filing the bill, which would overturn portions of this year’s Keep Washington Working Act.

That law calls for the state to develop policies to limit immigration enforcement in public schools, health facilities, courthouses and shelters so that people have safe access regardless of citizenship status.

Read more: https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2019/dec/02/fortunato-bill-would-end-sanctuary-cities/