Spokane County sheriff won't follow new immigration law



SPOKANE, Wash. (AP) — Spokane County Sheriff Ozzie Knezovich says he won't follow a new state law that forbids local officials from helping federal agents enforce some immigration laws.

Knezovich, a Republican, also contends that Democratic Gov. Jay Inslee should be arrested for obstruction of justice after signing the law last month.

The Spokesman-Review reports that the law was passed by the Legislature and designed partly to support the state economy and immigrants' role in the workplace.

Knezovich says the law sets up Washington as a "sanctuary state" and would prevent his officers from working with Immigration and Customs Enforcement and other federal officials in preventing crime by people who are in the country illegally.

Knezovich contends that what's really behind the law is Democrats' animus toward Republican President Donald Trump.