Washington state has taken legal action against Adams County for what it deems an unlawful partnership with federal immigration authorities, as announced by Attorney General Nick Brown. The suit, filed in Spokane County Superior Court, accuses the Adams County Sheriff's Office of detaining individuals based solely on their immigration status, questioning detainees with the help of federal agents, and sharing confidential personal data of state residents with immigration officials, as per information provided by the Attorney General's Office.
Emphasizing a conflict with state law, the Keep Washington Working Act is cited in the lawsuit to bar local law enforcement's involvement in federal immigration enforcement without hindering the federal government's authority, and despite ongoing settlement negotiations last year, a shift in Adams County's position occurred following Donald Trump's inauguration, the county aligning with America First Legal, which has launched attacks against Washington's sanctuary legislation. This change in stance and involvement with an organization headed by Stephen Miller, a well-known anti-immigrant proponent within the Trump administration, has escalated tensions.
America First Legal, which has recently undertaken a public campaign by issuing a press release and heralding its stance via social media and its website, has been retained by Adams County Sheriff's Office, with Stephen Miller at the organization's helm, according to a statement made by the Attorney General's Office. The suit aims to assert the state's right to control how it employs its resources in ensuring the safety of its residents and the economic vitality of the region.
The Keep Washington Working Act, which garnered bipartisan support upon its passage in 2019, was driven by concerns that the involvement of local authorities in federal immigration issues could deter crime victims from seeking the help they need, this notion was underpinned by a missive from the Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs (WASPC) highlighting the need for both federal and state laws to be followed and reassuring that no resident should be afraid to dial 911 over fears surrounding their immigration status, "Rhetoric does not change the fact that the focus of local law enforcement is on criminal violations that affect local community safety and quality of life," WASPC expressed, as stated by the Attorney General's Office.
