The House has overwhelmingly passed a bill sponsored by Rep. Drew MacEwen that would provide protections for undocumented immigrants who come forward to report they have been a victim of crime. House Bill 2895, known as The Safety and Access for Immigrant Victims Act, builds on federal law that allows law enforcement officials to certify applications for temporary visas for nonimmigrants who are victims of criminal acts.

“Victims of crime in our state should not have to hide in the shadows because of their immigration status. Forcing them to do so only adds to their victimization,” said MacEwen, R-Union. “Many undocumented victims are women and children, and it is vitally important that we give them a voice and help them seek justice. There is plenty of work to do on the federal level to reform our immigration system and ensure our borders are secure, but this bill addresses an important issue of public safety in Washington state. I am very grateful to Rep. Eric Pettigrew, D-Seattle, for his continued work on this issue to make this a truly bipartisan effort.”

House Bill 2895 passed the House 92-4 votes and now heads to the Senate for consideration.

The 2016 legislative session is scheduled to adjourn on March 10.