The King County Department of Adult and Juvenile Detention (DAJD) admitted to breaking state laws by hiring nearly 30 undocumented immigrants as correctional officers. They also expressed their intention to challenge the very laws restricting this kind of employment.
In a statement to the Jason Lantz Show, DAJD commented:
All individuals are fully trained as correctional officers and permitted to serve in the United States. King County is dedicated to ensuring the safety and fair treatment of our officers, and we are actively collaborating with the Washington State Criminal Justice Training Commission (WSCJTC). We remain open to all potential remedies.
The issue with their hiring practices surfaced after a whistleblower claimed that up to 100 illegal immigrants were employed at the facility. This practice directly contradicts Washington Rev. Stat. 43.101.095, which mandates that correctional officers must be legal U.S. citizens. Lantz pointed out that state law does allow for the employment of “lawful permanent residents” and individuals eligible under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program established during Barack Obama’s presidency.
DAJD acknowledged that they mistakenly hired 38 individuals who were thought to meet the requirements of RCW 43.101.095(2)(b)(v), yet they are unwilling to let these wrongfully hired employees go. In fact, it seems that the department is prepared to contest state law in order to keep these employees on board.
DAJD characterized the employment violation as an oversight, and insisted that those illegally hired remain on the job for now.
“Most staff are still fulfilling their assigned roles while we consult with CJTC about the best steps forward to maintain the operational integrity of the prison and ensure the safety of both staff and individuals in custody,” the department noted. “All officers still serving have completed comprehensive training from CJTC.”
Furthermore, the department is reportedly in discussions with the Washington State Attorney General’s Office to revise employment laws to retroactively allow for the recognition of these illegal hires.
The exact number of undocumented immigrants currently employed by DAJD is uncertain, and the department does not seem inclined to make this information public.
This employment scandal reaches beyond just the DAJD. Following the whistleblower’s claims, the Washington State Criminal Justice Training Commission (WSCJTC) recently terminated four illegal immigrants who had been accepted into the correctional officer training program.
