Chelan County, WA Immigration Policy: Sanctuary Policy Preemption (2026)

The policy sits in Chapter 1.392, adopted by Resolution 2020-144 (12/14/20) and applying to all offices, departments, properties, and facilities of Chelan County government, consistent with RCW 43.10.310(2). Section 1.392.010 restates the state Keep Washington Working Act (effective May 21, 2019, codified at RCW 10.93, 43.10 and 43.17) as county policy. Specific restrictions: no inquiry into immigration, citizenship, or place of birth absent a nexus to a state or local criminal investigation (subsection 1); no notification to federal immigration authorities for civil enforcement purposes except as required by law (2); the same limits bind school resource officers (3)-(4); no disclosure of non-public personal information to federal immigration authorities in noncriminal matters (5); no ICE interview access to people in custody on noncriminal matters without a signed written consent form, explained orally and offered in English and Spanish, stating the person will not be punished for declining (6)-(7); no detention solely to determine immigration status (8); no custody based solely on a civil immigration warrant or hold request (9); written notice of the right to refuse to disclose nationality or immigration status (10); no denial of county services based on an immigration detainer (11); no county officer may enter a 287(g) agreement under 8 U.S.C.

1357(g) (12); any existing immigration detention agreements had to terminate within 180 days of the Act's May 21, 2019 effective date (13); and no contracting for interpretation services from federal immigration authorities (14). The policy binds county staff and offices rather than creating a separate criminal statute against the public.