A coalition of civil rights organizations called on Governor Bob Ferguson Wednesday to audit state agencies and strengthen protections preventing federal immigration authorities from accessing Washington residents’ personal data.
The advocacy groups, speaking at a Pioneer Square press conference, argued that state agencies have inadvertently facilitated federal immigration enforcement through database sharing, potentially violating the Keep Washington Working Act passed in 2019.
Roxana Norouzi, executive director of OneAmerica, described urgent concerns about data misuse. “Every day our beloved community members are being arrested, detained, snatched and disappeared from their cars, their homes, and their families,” Norouzi said. “We’re calling on Governor Ferguson to use his executive powers to stop the Department of Homeland Security from accessing our private data.”
The coalition cited specific instances where Immigration and Customs Enforcement allegedly used Washington Department of Licensing records to locate and arrest undocumented residents. “We’ve seen evidence of ICE using Washingtonian’s private data, license plates, names, and addresses to find our loved ones and upend their lives,” Norouzi explained.
Representative Osman Salahuddin, D-Redmond, provided a concrete example of the concerns. “A man who had no criminal record was surveilled and arrested by ICE once they used our state’s department of licensing records to confirm his cars belonged to him,” Salahuddin said. “This is a clear attack on our freedoms and has deepened our community’s mistrust of government.”
The Keep Washington Working Act prohibits state agencies from assisting Department of Homeland Security immigration enforcement in most circumstances. However, advocates argue enforcement and compliance have been inadequate.
The Department of Licensing recently blocked federal agents’ access to its databases after revelations that the information was being used to track undocumented residents, demonstrating the scope of previous data sharing arrangements.
Current federal requests extend beyond immigration enforcement. The Department of Justice is seeking access to Washington’s voter registration database, including full names, birthdates, driver’s licenses, and partial Social Security numbers.
Secretary of State Steve Hobbs expressed uncertainty about the federal data request. “I had more questions than answers, the big one being why the DOJ wants that information,” Hobbs said Monday.
The advocacy coalition includes OneAmerica, Washington State Labor Council, ACLU-WA, Community 2 Community, and Latino Community Fund. Their demands encompass comprehensive agency audits, stronger policy guardrails, and increased funding for immigrant support programs and legal defense services.
Norouzi acknowledged ongoing dialogue with the governor’s office while emphasizing the need for stronger action. “We’ve been grateful for the relationship we have and the correspondence that we’ve had so far with the governor, and we need more,” she said. “The reality is that trust has been broken.”
The advocacy effort reflects broader tensions between state sanctuary policies and federal immigration enforcement priorities, with Washington’s immigrant communities caught between conflicting jurisdictional authorities.
