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New rule protects immigrant workers from surprise ICE audits in WA
The Sikh Coalition noted that the act will help bring more transparency to immigration enforcement action.
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Jeffin T. Kaleekal - Thu, 02, Apr 2026
- 03:59 EDT
- 17
Representative image / Reuters
Washington Governor Bob Ferguson has signed into law a bill requiring employers to notify workers when their employment eligibility records are set to be reviewed by federal authorities.
The Immigrant Worker Protection Act, HB 2105, passed by the state house and Senate on March 12, has received its final assent. It mandates employers tohe notify employees when a federal agency communicates an inspection of the I-9 forms maintained by the employer.
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USCIS Form I-9, or Employment Eligibility Verification, is a mandatory document used by U.S. employers to verify the identity and legal authorization to work of all new employees. Mandated by the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986, it requires employees to present acceptable documents—such as a passport, green card, or driver's license—to prove their eligibility.
In a move against the mounting federal immigration enforcement action, the law would enable workers to not only straighten out paperwork but will also allow them to contact their attorneys and take other necessary steps in preparation of the enforcement action.
The act highlighted the significance of the contributions made by the immigrants and said, "The legislature finds that immigrant workers contribute to Washington state's strong economy. According to research from the immigration research initiative, immigrants account for 8 to 15 percent of the population in Washington state, yet contribute 21 percent of economic output, or gross domestic product (GDP)."
The act mandates employers to distribute written notices among workers and post it where the workers can be expected to see it in English and in the state's five most common non-English languages.
Apart from these notices, employers have also been mandated to "send written notices to the last known addresses of all workers employed by the employer in the last three years," within 72 hours of receiving the federal notification.
The Sikh coalition celebrated the new act and said on X, "This bill will strengthen protections for workers during federal immigration enforcement actions by requiring employer transparency, prohibiting retaliation, and expanding state-level enforcement through the Attorney General."
In February, the Sikh Coalition had advocated their support for the bill through an advocacy day in Olympia. Reacting to the news of the Act coming into force, the Sikh Coalition also hailed the contributions of its sevadars who had spoken to the lawmakers about the bill.
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FATEH!
— Sikh Coalition (@sikh_coalition) April 1, 2026
On Monday, HB 2105, a bill to strengthen protections for workers during federal immigration enforcement actions in Washington, was signed into law by Governor Ferguson. pic.twitter.com/mffURUEhn2
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