The bill amends existing laws to facilitate the transfer of individuals in the custody of the Washington Department of Corrections to federal immigration authorities. It introduces a new section to chapter 72.09 RCW, allowing the department to transfer incarcerated individuals serving a term of total confinement or community custody to federal custody for immigration enforcement purposes. This transfer can occur at any time during the individual's term based on the presence of an immigration detainer, hold, notification request, or civil immigration warrant. Additionally, the bill stipulates that the individual's term of confinement will continue to run concurrently while in federal custody.

The bill also revises RCW 10.93.160, emphasizing that state and local law enforcement agencies, including school resource officers, are not primarily responsible for enforcing federal immigration laws. It prohibits these agencies from inquiring about an individual's immigration status unless it is relevant to a criminal investigation and restricts the sharing of personal information with federal immigration authorities. Furthermore, it prohibits state and local law enforcement from entering into immigration detention agreements and limits their ability to provide language services from federal immigration authorities. The bill aims to clarify the roles of state and local law enforcement in relation to federal immigration enforcement while ensuring the rights of individuals in custody.

Statutes affected:
Original Bill: 43.17.420, 10.93.160