No. Skagit County Sheriff’s Office deputies are prohibited from asking anyone about their immigration status. No one should fear calling 911 because of their immigration status. If a deputy learns of your immigration status, including any undocumented status, they cannot share that information with federal civil immigration enforcement officers.
Keep Washington Working Act
Sheriff's Office
The following is intended to provide clarity about what Washington State law requires or prohibits regarding immigration enforcement, what the policy of the Skagit County Sheriff’s Office is, and what you can expect from Skagit County Sheriff’s Office deputies.
Keep Washington Working Act
- Immigration enforcement is NOT the role of local or state law enforcement officers according to a Washington State Law known as the "Keep Washington Working Act," which is codified at RCW 10.93.160.
- State law prohibits Washington law enforcement officers from helping or otherwise sharing non-publicly available personal information with federal authorities for civil immigration enforcement purposes, such as deportation proceedings. This means that if a person is contacted by any of our deputies or held in our jail on a criminal law violation, their private personal information, along with any information concerning the person’s immigration status, cannot be shared with federal civil immigration enforcement officers.
- State law prohibits our deputies from asking about a person’s immigration or citizenship status, unless there is a connection between that information and a criminal investigation. The "Keep Washington Working Act" did not change the ability of local law enforcement to work with federal police officers for purposes of criminal investigations, such as drug trafficking, trafficking in stolen property, human trafficking, terrorism, and other federal crimes.
Skagit County Sheriff Office Policy
- Skagit County Sheriff’s Office Policy Manual
- Skagit County Sheriff’s Office deputies are here to protect and serve everyone in our community.
- The Skagit County Sheriff’s Office is compliant with the Keep Washington Working Act.
Frequently Asked Questions
No. Federal law does not require deputies to assist federal law enforcement, and state law prohibits Washington law enforcement officers from doing so in relation to civil immigration matters, such as deportation.
ICE receives authority to conduct civil immigration enforcement from federal law – not state or county law. It is against federal law for any person to obstruct, delay, impede, or interfere with a federal law enforcement officer in the performance of their official duties. Violation of that federal crime carries a penalty of up to three years in prison and a significant fine. It is a crime for a local police officer to interfere with federal immigration authorities, just as much as it is a crime for a resident of Skagit County to do the same.
Skagit County Sheriff’s Office deputies may assist federal law enforcement authorities with serious criminal matters, such as drug trafficking, trafficking in stolen property, human trafficking, terrorism, and other federal crimes. Skagit County Sheriff’s Office deputies are committed to keeping our community safe, and if our deputies have the opportunity to assist with the arrest of an individual who has committed a serious federal crime, they will provide that assistance.
The Skagit County Sheriff’s Office is required by law to follow public disclosure law and disclose the requested record or information upon request regardless of who is requesting the record. Federal immigration authorities have the same access to public records that any other member of the public would have access to. However, the Skagit County Sheriff’s Office will not voluntarily share information for the purposes of civil immigration enforcement.
What happens if someone reports an undocumented individual to the Skagit County Sheriff’s Office?
Nothing. Skagit County Sheriff’s Office deputies do not enforce immigration, and they are prohibited by law from providing any nonpublic personal information or assistance to federal immigration authorities for civil immigration purposes. It is the sole responsibility of federal authorities to address issues related to immigration. The Skagit County Sheriff’s Office will serve all community members regardless of immigration status.
