The Senate Members of Color Caucus (MOCC) remains deeply concerned about a recent study published by the University of Washington Center for Human Rights that alleges Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) continues to access state agency databases to identify and target individuals for immigration enforcement. This occurs despite a decade of state laws and policies designed to protect immigrant Washingtonians, including the Keep Washington Working Act, passed by the Legislature in 2019.
“The Keep Washington Working Act was passed to prevent the types of incidents we are now seeing, and we call upon the governor to ensure agency compliance immediately. It is unacceptable that any federal immigration officials were able to access the information of Washingtonians,” said Sen. Yasmin Trudeau (D-Tacoma), Senate MOCC chair. “We have sent a clear message in this state about Washington’s commitment to protect people’s privacy and keep data out of the hands of those who seek to harass and dehumanize our communities. This is about protecting public trust and ensuring people will continue to engage with our government institutions without fear their personal information will be wielded against them or their families.”
The Senate MOCC shares the concerns of the House MOCC that, as new databases and technologies come online, the state is not adequately addressing the collection, storage, and unauthorized or prohibited sharing of data from various methods, including automated license plate reader systems. To address these gaps, Trudeau has introduced Senate Bill 6002, which would establish regulatory guardrails for data collected by automated license plate reader cameras, limiting potential misuse, including for immigration enforcement.
The Senate MOCC continues to monitor reports of escalating violence by immigration enforcement officials targeting both immigrants and U.S. citizens as deportation efforts ramp up across Washington and the nation. Like many elected officials statewide, the Senate MOCC stands firmly against the needless brutality employed by federal agents.
“Everyone deserves to feel safe, and it’s important that people have confidence that Washington state is committed to protecting them,” said Sen. Claudia Kauffman (D-Kent), Senate MOCC co-vice chair. “We are dedicated to continuing our work to ensure community members, regardless of background, have the support and safety they need to thrive in Washington.”
To increase transparency and ensure accountability, Sen. Javier Valdez (D-Seattle) has also introduced Senate Bill 5855 to ensure law enforcement officers — including ICE agents — cannot hide their faces while working in Washington.
“No one should be able to hide their identity while exercising the power of law enforcement, including federal agents,” said Valdez, Senate MOCC co-vice chair. “When immigration agents conceal who they are, it erodes public trust and creates opportunities for abuse. This legislation is about transparency, accountability, and protecting Washingtonians from intimidation and misconduct.”
The Senate MOCC will continue fighting to protect our communities and stand up against the federal overreach that has left so many Washingtonians living in fear. We stand firmly against the weaponization of personal information and the intimidation of our neighbors. In our state, families deserve safety, privacy must be defended, and fear must have no place.
