Dori: Fortunato’s bill to overturn sanctuary laws a good idea, but won’t pass
Dec 4, 2019, 7:42 AM
Sen. Phil Fortunato (AP)
(AP)
As you know, I believe that one of the many problems that we’re dealing with as a region is that we are a sanctuary city, county, and state.
With that comes an awful lot of illegal immigrants whom I don’t want to mess with. They come here, they work hard for a better future, and they obey the laws.
But, we are also seeing a lot of illegal immigrants who come here and commit serious crimes like rape, and are then released by activist judges. After their release, they are not turned over to Immigration and Customs Enforcement — even though violent crimes are enough to get even a legal immigrant deported — because King County Executive Dow Constantine and King County Sheriff Mitzi Johanknecht have apparently decided that protecting illegal immigrants is more important than protecting the lives of citizens.
This does not have a chance of succeeding, given the political makeup of the Washington State Legislature, but Sen. Phil Fortunato (R-Auburn) has introduced a bill to overturn some of the 2019 Keep Washington Working Act. Essentially, his bill will end sanctuary status. He says that it will protect illegal immigrants who are victims or witnesses of crimes, but will overturn sanctuary status for governments, requiring law enforcement to cooperate with ICE.
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Fortunato pointed out that we have attracted illegal immigrants who have committed serious crimes, such as the illegal immigrant who raped a woman in a wheelchair, was released nine months later, and immediately returned to violently assault her.
I want to make sure you understand what Fortunato is saying. He is not talking about all illegal immigrants. There are a lot of people coming to this country to seek a better life who work hard, take care of their families, and do not break the law. He is talking about the people who commit serious offenses.
Unfortunately, because our Legislature is in Democrats’ hands, this bill does not have a hope of passing.
Similarly, Fortunato himself has thrown his hat in the ring to run for governor against incumbent Jay Inslee next year. Do I think he has a chance against Inslee? No, I don’t think so. I don’t think any of the candidates who have declared really have a chance against him. I think we all know there is only one person who can beat Jay Inslee — but he probably doesn’t want to run.
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