Recent kidnapping, torture case prompts state senator’s plea to kill WA’s sanctuary state policy

Citing a recent horrific crime that involved the kidnapping and torture of a 58-year-old woman in King County, State Senator Phil Fortunato (R-Auburn) wants to end Washington’s sanctuary state policy.

“This tragedy is just the latest example of why I’ve been fighting to repeal our sanctuary laws,” Fortunato said. “When violent criminals are allowed to remain in our communities because ICE is shut out, innocent people pay the price.”

Two men accused of kidnapping, torturing, shooting Burien woman

The King County Major Crimes Unit led a three-month investigation into three men who allegedly kidnapped a 58-year-old woman near her apartment complex in Burien. According to investigators, the group of men drove the victim around the state for several hours while torturing her in the vehicle. They threatened to kill both her and her family.

“The woman said one of the suspects drilled a power tool into her hand to force her to give up bank account information,” the King County Sheriff’s Office stated.

Eventually, the men allegedly threw her over a retaining wall, shot her, and left her for dead on the side of I-90 near milepost 57 in Kittitas County. Suffering from multiple gunshot wounds, she was able to flag down a passing car on the highway, which took her to Harborview Medical Center.

One of the suspects reportedly has ties to Tren de Aragua, a violent Venezuelan gang. The Trump administration agreed on a $6 million deal with El Salvador to imprison deportees it says are members of the Venezuelan MS-13 gang.

 Senate Bill 5002 would repeal 2019 sanctuary state policy

Former Washington Governor Jay Inslee signed the Keep Washington Working Act in 2019, which prohibits state law enforcement agencies from cooperating with federal authorities regarding undocumented individuals. This includes not notifying U.S Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents when an undocumented person is detained and found to have a criminal record.

Fortunato wants to prioritize removing violent offenders in the country who are here illegally and are already in state custody. He is one of two sponsors of SB 5002, which would end Washington as a sanctuary state.

“This isn’t about immigration, it’s about public safety,” Fortunato said when discussing SB 5002. “We’re talking about people with serious criminal histories who never should have been here to begin with. It’s time to stop protecting them and start protecting Washingtonians. With the legislative session winding down, our communities can’t wait any longer. Public safety must come first.”

The argument for the Keep Washington Working Act was to promote fairness to immigrants and protect the privacy and civil rights of all Washington residents. The bill stated that nearly one million Washingtonians (1 in 7) were immigrants at the time it became law.

“Sanctuary policies aren’t protecting the vulnerable, they’re putting them in greater danger,” Fortunato stated.

ICE provided a list of more than 300 individuals in DOC custody with detainers. The list, which can be seen here, breaks down the crimes committed by the individuals.

Follow Frank Sumrall on X. Send news tips here.