Washington Gov. Jay Inslee signed an executive order Thursday that would bar state and local law enforcement officials from arresting illegal immigrants at the request of federal officials.
The order comes after Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly signed an executive order Monday calling for an expansion of the 287(g) program in which state and local law enforcement officials enforce federal immigration law.
“The Washington State Patrol or Department of Corrections, or other executive or small cabinet agency with arrest powers, will act consistently with current federal law and shall not arrest solely for violation of federal civil immigration laws, except as otherwise required by federal or state law or authorized by the governor,” the order signed by Gov. Inslee states. “Specifically, no agency may enter into any agreements with the federal government authorizing such authority under the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. §1357).”
Inslee wrote in a blog post: “This executive order makes clear that Washington will not be a willing participant in promoting or carrying out mean-spirited policies that break up families and compromise our national security and community safety.”
This order doesn’t make Washington a sanctuary state, as that is a specific definition meaning noncompliance with federal immigration detainers.