Municipal police in Port Orchard issued a public statement clarifying their strict adherence to Washington state sanctuary statutes following an unannounced federal immigration enforcement operation at a South Kitsap commercial worksite.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement conducting an administrative warrant service.
Department leadership noted that their sole statutory duty upon arriving at an active federal scene is to verify the legitimacy of armed personnel carrying weapons in public spaces, prevent potential breaches of the peace, and ensure that neighborhood residents remain safe from accidental harm.
When unannounced federal enforcement sweeps occur on job sites, entire construction crews often abandon worksites due to fear of arbitrary detention, creating costly project delays, missed inspection deadlines, and compounding contractual penalties for local developers.
This dynamic was a principal legislative justification for passing the Keep Washington Working Act, which sought to decouple community crime reporting from federal civil immigration status.
Port Orchard Police Department issued a formal statement clarifying strict compliance with Washington's Keep Washington Working Act after an unannounced daylight ICE worksite arrest near McCormick Village.