Expanded sanctuary state rules advance in Washington

OLYMPIA, Wash. — A proposal to create expanded sanctuary state rules is moving forward in Washington.

The bill, from Mercer Island Democratic Sen. Lisa Wellman, would limit the ability of police to inquire about immigration status, and require schools, courthouses, and other government facilities to adopt rules minimizing the risk of them being used as staging grounds for immigration stops, along with other protections. It had a public hearing Friday.

That would put Washington on par with — and in some areas beyond — Oregon and California, both of which have adopted their own sanctuary state policies.

They expand on protections created in a 2017 order from Gov. Jay Inslee, which limited state agencies but not local law enforcement.

Representatives of a major law enforcement advocacy group said they were not opposed to the measure.