‘A step in the right direction’: Gee and Ursula back WA bill to notify workers of ICE inspections

A new Washington bill, the Immigrant Workers Protection Act, passed the House. It would require employers to give workers 72 hours’ notice before federal officials inspect immigration paperwork.

Supporters say the goal isn’t to block enforcement but to prevent legal workers from being fired over paperwork mistakes. Critics argue the law undermines U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and puts employers in the middle of a state-federal fight.

Gee Scott and Ursula Reutin, co-hosts of “The Gee and Ursula Show” on KIRO Newsradio, both supported the bill, saying the goal of targeting violent offenders gets lost when crackdowns happen at workplaces with legal employees.

“[Workers] shouldn’t be ambushed by federal agents with absolutely zero support,” Gee said. “The whole idea was to find the violent offenders. It’s not to go to their jobs, not people who are doing their best to provide for their families. If you think that people deserve to get some legal help or get their rights protected and keep their family steps safe, then this is a step in the right direction. This doesn’t stop ICE. All it does is force just a little bit of transparency, if you will.”

“You’re exactly right,” Ursula responded. “Federal agents already have to give employers advance notice before the inspection. It would require employers to tell the workers as well. I think this bill is the right thing because we have seen a lot of folks not getting due process. The enforcement would still happen. Agents would still check records and remove unauthorized workers, but it would become less of a surprise raid and more of a compliance audit, which I think is fair.”

Watch the full discussion in the video above.

Listen to Gee and Ursula on “The Gee and Ursula Show” weekday mornings from 9 am to 12 pm on KIRO Newsradio.