Our Priorities

Protecting Immigrant Children, Families, and Workers

  • Protect Washington’s Early Learning Safety Net: Prevents cuts to funding which impacts eligibility for families, rates for providers, and access to both Working Connections Child Care and ECEAP in centers and homes. Avoids further cuts to dual language designation and equity grants.
  • Immigrant Workers Protection Act, SB 5852 (Saldaña), HB 2105 (Ortiz-Self): Requires employers notify employees of federal government requests of employment I-9 eligibility information and only share employees’ personal data when a subpoena or judicial warrant is issued.

Protecting Immigrants’ Civil Rights

  • Preclearance in the Washington Voting Rights Act (WVRA), HB 1710 (Mena): Strengthens voting rights by requiring local jurisdictions with a history of discrimination to get preapproval of a court or the Attorney General to change election policies.
  • Regulating Automated License Plate Readers (ALPRs), SB 6002 (Trudeau), HB 2332 (Salahuddin): Restricts ALPR data use and retention. Limits the sharing of this information with the federal government and out-of-state agencies to protect immigrants from the deportation pipeline and prevent violation of civil rights.
  • Attorney General’s Civil Investigation Demands Bill, SB 5925 (Hansen), HB 2161 (Farivar): Allows the Washington State Attorney General’s Civil Rights Division to better enforce Keep Washington Working.

Budget Centered on Immigrant Justice

  • Washington Migrant and Asylum-Seekers Support (WA MASS) Project (Department of Social and Health Services): Renew and reinvest $25 million for supportive services to newcomer immigrants and asylum-seekers.
  • Washington New Americans Program (Department of Commerce): Maintain funding for naturalization services to prevent deportation and keep families together.
  • Pass Progressive Revenue to Fund Washington: Our state’s budget should be supported by progressive revenue to avoid major cuts to services, programs and public goods working people in our state depend on.

Additional Legislative Priorities Supported by OneAmerica

  • Guidance on Voter Suppression/Voter Denial, HB 1750 (Hill): Creates a clear standard of protection to assess voter suppression and vote denial to ensure our communities’ votes are never abridged when attempting to make their voice heard.
  • Domestic Worker Bill of Rights, SB 5023 (Saldaña), HB 1561 (Stonier): Advances critical labor protections for thousands of domestic workers, including housekeepers, childcare providers, caregivers, and gardeners.
  • Banning Use of Face Masks by Law Enforcement, SB 5855 (Valdez): Restricts certain facial coverings, requires officers to provide identifying information in most circumstances, and gives people the right to take private legal action if their rights are violated.
  • Reporting and Law Enforcement Responses for Incidents at Private Detention Facilities, HB 2464 (Ortiz-Self): Enhances reporting requirements and law enforcement responses for incidents like abuse, death, and significant injuries at private detention facilities.
  • Authorizing Shared Leave Resulting From Immigration Enforcement Actions and Hate Crimes, HB 2411 (Salahuddin): Authorizes shared leave for state employee absences related to hate crimes and immigration enforcement actions.

Additional Budget Priorities Supported by OneAmerica

Social Services and Healthcare:

  • Apple Health Expansion (Health Care Authority): Renews funding to continue vital healthcare coverage for low-income immigrants who do not qualify for federal healthcare coverage and benefits.
  • Replacing Loss of Apple Health for Washington Immigrants (Health Care Authority): Starting October 1, 2026, 30,000 immigrants, including 3,000 seniors and individuals with disabilities who are already losing long-term care services and supports, are likely to lose Apple Health (Medicaid) coverage as well. This is because the federal government passed HR 1 this summer. Washington must step up to backfill this loss with $132 million to maintain coverage.
  • Limited English Proficient (LEP) Pathways (Department of Social and Health Services): Continues culturally responsive services to limited English proficient individuals.

Legal Services for Immigrants:  

  • Legal Aid for Low-Income Immigrants Program (Dept. of Commerce): Continues crucial immigration legal services and deportation defense for low-income immigrants, including Washingtonians detained by ICE.
  • Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) (Dept. of Commerce): Continues funding legal services for immigrant survivors of crimes, such as sexual assault, domestic violence, stalking, and sex and labor trafficking.
  • Naturalization Services Funding for Low-Income Immigrants (Dept. of Social and Health Services): Continues providing equitable access to human services and economic stability for low-income immigrants through naturalization services.

Last Updated: 1/21/2026