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Nearly one million Washingtonians – one in every seven people in this state – are immigrants, and they are an integral part of our communities and workforce. Expanded federal immigration enforcement activity has created significant uncertainty and fear for immigrants, their families, and their employers. The Keep Washington Working Act (KWW) protects our communities, our economy, and our resources by getting local governments out of the business of federal immigration enforcement.

Expanded federal immigration enforcement risks public safety when people are afraid to come forward to report crimes and serve as witnesses. It drains scarce public safety resources from our communities, burdening our taxpayers and making us less safe. Furthermore, studies have shown that where local law enforcement does not use its resources on federal immigration and instead focuses on local public safety and community policing, communities have lower rates of crime, poverty, and unemployment. This reflects the economic benefits of building trust between immigrant communities and the government. Support stronger, safer communities. Tell your legislator to pass the Keep Washington Working Act.

Message Recipients:
Your State Lower Chamber Representatives
Your State Upper Chamber Representatives

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Your Message

Subject Support Keep Washington Working, SB 5497, HB 1815

Dear Legislator:

Nearly one million Washingtonians – one in every seven people in this state – are immigrants, and they are an integral part of our communities and workforce. Expanded immigration enforcement activity has created significant uncertainty and fear for immigrants, their families, and their employers.

The Keep Washington Working Act (KWW), a bipartisan piece of legislation, protects the privacy and civil rights of all Washington residents. When local law enforcement agencies do the work of federal immigration authorities, it diminishes public safety, wastes taxpayer dollars, and damages Washington’s economy. KWW prohibits local law enforcement from questioning about immigration status, notifying ICE that a noncitizen is in custody, and detaining someone for civil immigration enforcement. This legislation prevents federal immigration agencies from commandeering scarce local public safety resources, eroding community trust, and negatively impacting our state’s economy, while supporting the success of our agricultural workforce.

Message Body

We urge you to pass the strongest possible version of KWW because it:

• Promotes Public Safety
Immigration enforcement commonly targets individuals who pose no threat to public safety. A study of police officers from across the country and across the political spectrum found that local enforcement of federal immigration laws resulted in the undermining of trust between law enforcement and the communities they serve. When local police are viewed as an extension of the immigration system, noncitizens are less likely to report crime or appear as witnesses, making us all less safe. KWW encourages local law enforcement to prioritize community and public safety – not the work of federal immigration departments.

• Protects our state’s taxpayers
The federal government does not reimburse the costs of local resources used to collaborate in immigration enforcement. Expending scarce local public safety resources compromises the ability of local governments to meet the needs of their community. Additionally, such enforcement exposes a jurisdiction to costly litigation.

• Defends Washington’s economy
A recent study, analyzing the federal government’s own data, showed positive outcomes in jurisdictions that do not enforce immigration laws. Jurisdictions that choose not to hold people for ICE have lower rates of crime, poverty, and unemployment. In addition to a safer community, these reflect the economic benefits of law enforcement building trust in local communities.

Sincerely,

[First Name] [Last Name]
[Your Address]

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