OLYMPIA, Wash. — Gov. Jay Inslee issued an executive order today telling state agencies to limit their cooperation with federal immigration authorities.
Inslee's executive order covers the State Patrol and all other state agencies. He says it simply reinforces existing state law.
“Their role is to fulfill missions of providing services to Washingtonians, not enforcing immigration statutes,” the governor said at a news conference today.
They must not help the federal government in creating a religious registry and must not help federal agents in immigration arrests, except as required by law.
Under the order, that means agencies must not collect information about immigration status.
The governor says criminal warrants will be honored.
“Washington will not be a willing participant in promoting or carrying out mean-spirited policies that break up families and compromise our national security,” Inslee said.
That's welcome news at the Makkah Islamic school in Seattle. The principal was with the governor for his announcement.
“It's a beacon of hope, it's a beacon of hope for all of us,” said Aishah Bomani
Teresa Garcia is encouraged, too. “If I was crying it's because imagining and remembering all of those little ones who are very afraid because mommy or daddy will not come home today.”
We asked Inslee if he risked losing federal money for the state patrol if he defied President Donald Trump.
“I think when push comes to shove, cities, counties in red and blue states are going to say no, we need money for our law enforcement agencies,” the governor said. When his cellphone rang by surprise, he took a poke at Trump’s alleged Russia connections, by announcing that it was Vladimir Putin. “I'll get back to you Vladimir,” Inslee said to laughter.
Inslee is leaving Friday for the National Governors Association in Washington, DC. On Monday, he’ll have a chance to express his concerns to Trump face-to-face.
Here are some of those events:
>> Read more: Murray willing to sue President Trump over executive orders
>> Q&A: Both sides in case of man detained by immigration agents
>> Related: Trump administration will revise travel ban after initial ban halted by Seattle judge
>> Council passes resolution affirming Seattle as 'Welcoming City'
On Thursday, Inslee noted that actions by national leaders are having a real-world impact in Washington.
According to the governor's office, state agencies have reported to the governor that some immigrants, including those here legally, have stopped accepting services because they fear what the federal government might do with the information they have to submit to the state.