Immigration (Sanctuary Policies)

HB 2547 requires county and municipal jails in Washington to have a written contract with the U.S. government before holding individuals transferred from federal custody. The contract must cover all costs of confinement and include a fee for the jail’s expenses; if federal funds aren’t received as agreed, the jail must stop holding those individuals. The bill also prohibits jails from contracting to hold people transported across state lines, except when a valid judicial warrant exists. This directly affects local jails that currently house federal detainees and ensures financial accountability for federal custody arrangements.

This bill requires Washington county and municipal jails to have written contracts with the U.S. government before accepting individuals held in federal custody. Jails may temporarily accept federal detainees for 180 days after the law takes effect while securing a contract, but must have one in place for all new admissions afterward. Contracts must include a minimum daily fee based on existing interlocal agreements, and jails may still accept federal detainees without a contract if they determine it serves public safety interests. The bill directly affects local jails that currently hold federal detainees without formal agreements.

HB 2641 prohibits Washington state law enforcement agencies (both general and limited authority) from hiring individuals who became sworn officers with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) on or after January 20, 2025. The law applies only to future hires, not current employees, and takes effect October 1, 2026. It directly affects Washington agencies seeking new sworn officers by restricting recruitment from a specific federal agency. The bill does not alter existing employment contracts or impact other federal law enforcement roles.

SB 5002 prohibits Washington state and local governments from adopting "sanctuary policies" that block cooperation with federal immigration enforcement. The bill requires law enforcement agencies to share immigration status information with federal authorities and to facilitate the transfer of individuals subject to immigration detainers. Specifically, it mandates that judges in criminal cases where a defendant is subject to an immigration detainer must order a reduction of up to 12 days in their state sentence to enable seamless transfer to federal custody. This law directly affects counties, municipalities, and correctional facilities by requiring compliance with federal immigration requests.