The Brief
- A University of Washington report says federal immigration agents have continued accessing Washington driver records through a law enforcement database despite state restrictions.
- Researchers say they confirmed 58 immigration arrests tied to those database searches, while state officials say they are reviewing ways to further limit access.
- Washington agencies and federal officials disagree over whether restricting the database would protect residents’ privacy or hinder criminal and public safety investigations.
SEATTLE – The University of Washington Center for Human Rights says federal immigration agents have continued accessing Washington drivers’ information through a national law enforcement data-sharing system, despite state laws intended to limit cooperation with civil immigration enforcement.
The center’s latest update to its research says it has now confirmed 58 cases where Washingtonians were arrested by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) or U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) after federal agencies obtained driver information from the Washington Department of Licensing through the National Law Enforcement Telecommunications System, known as Nlets.
The UW Center for Human Rights says it has 122 additional cases awaiting confirmation.…