Executive Summary
Establishing data and personal safety protections within schools, childcare facilities and other public accommodation for all Washington residents
Background
Individual Rights
Individuals have certain rights when interacting with officers of agencies conducting immigration enforcement. These rights do not depend on the individual’s immigration status. They include:-
- the right to remain silent
-
- the right to ask the officer to leave if they enter a private space without a warrant or court order signed by a judge
-
- the right to ask the officer to see their warrant or court order
-
- the right to ask them for information that identifies them
Summary
Unless otherwise required by law Early Learning Providers and K-12 schools may not
-
- Collect information or documents about the immigration status of students or their family members.
-
- Allow immigration enforcement officers to enter nonpublic areas without a court‑issued warrant, subpoena, or court order.
By the beginning of the 2027-28 school year, each school district is required to adopt or amend a policy and procedure for limiting immigration enforcement in schools.
Higher Education
-
- Colleges and universities must clearly identify which areas of campus are nonpublic (for example, through signs, restricted entry, maps, policies, or a combination).
-
- Faculty, staff, and volunteers may not allow immigration enforcement officers to enter nonpublic areas of campus without a court‑issued warrant, subpoena, or court order.
HealthCare Providers
-
- Health care providers can’t allow immigration enforcement to enter nonpublic areas unless required by law or the officer has a court‑issued warrant or court order that specifically allows access.
Elections
-
- County auditors must designate ballot-handling locations as nonpublic during elections and prohibit immigration enforcement access to those areas unless a valid judicial warrant or court order is presented, as required by law.
Ways to Get Involved
Steps to Get Started
- Learn where the bill is in the legislative process.
- If there is an upcoming hearing, decide how you would like to get your voice heard and take action.
- If there is not an upcoming hearing, or if you want to supplement your advocacy, call or write your legislators.
- Spread the word and get other people on board.
Participating in a Hearing
Sign in Pro, Con, or Other
This is when individuals, advocates, and organizations make their position on a particular bill known for the record. This is particularly powerful in large numbers. Many organizations will send out Action Alerts asking people to sign in Pro or Con on a bill.
Submit Written Testimony
Submitting written testimony is a great way not only to make your position known to legislators but also to explain why in more detail. This is a good option if you don’t want to speak in front of others. People also like to offer more nuance to their position by writing.
Testify Virtually
Since COVID, many legislators are allowing remote/virtual testimony for bill hearings, as it greatly expands access to the legislative process across the state. For this, individuals usually have between 1-2 minutes to state their opinion on a bill in front of the legislative committee on Zoom.