Uncertainty among immigrants across the U.S. is increasing as President-elect Donald Trump vows to carry out mass deportations upon taking office on Jan. 20th.
Lawmakers in the state of Washington are gearing up for the upcoming legislative session, during which they will be considering a bill aimed at bolstering support for immigrants who are working in the state without legal authorization. While state legislators have limited authority when it comes to federal immigration enforcement, this proposed legislation seeks to enhance the safety net for these individuals.
Senator Rebecca Saldaña, a Democrat from Seattle, is bringing back a bill this session aimed at assisting these workers in their quest to obtain unemployment insurance.
Lawmakers, immigrant rights advocates, and business groups in Washington all recognize the crucial role that immigrants play in helping employers fulfill their state and national labor requirements. Nevertheless, the proposal for unemployment insurance has raised concerns regarding expenses, as well as issues surrounding privacy and employer accountability.
Saldaña emphasized the detrimental impact of inaction and hostility towards immigrant workers in Washington state. He firmly believes that the current situation calls for the implementation of a state program to address these issues.
According to the Migration Policy Institute, there are over 156,000 individuals in Washington who are employed despite not having legal authorization to work in the United States. These individuals work in various industries including agriculture, hospitality, construction, and retail.
Unemployment insurance relies on a combination of federal and state payroll taxes. These taxes are deducted from an employee’s salary and are the responsibility of the employer to remit to the government.
According to the Washington Immigrant Solidarity Network, immigrants who do not have legal authorization to work in the United States have contributed approximately $400 million to unemployment funds in Washington over the past ten years.
The proposed legislation aims to allocate state funds to establish a program catering to workers who are unable to qualify for regular unemployment insurance due to their immigration status. In the event of job loss through no fault of their own, these workers would be eligible to access these funds.
Workers who want to apply for unemployment insurance visit the website of the Employment Security Department. They fill out their information to determine if they meet the eligibility criteria. In the case of workers without legal work authorization, they would be redirected to a separate website if the program is implemented.
The program will be implemented using a third-party administrative system. Saldaña explains that this approach will help to reduce costs, safeguard the identities of workers, and prevent employers from being held responsible for knowingly hiring immigrants without legal immigration status. These were concerns that were raised by both advocates and critics during the previous session.
In 2022, Colorado became the pioneering state in the nation to enact a bill that established a fund providing unemployment insurance to all residents, regardless of their immigration status. The program was allocated an annual budget of $15 million, ensuring accessibility and support for individuals in need.
According to cost estimates, the Washington program is projected to require approximately $100 million in its first two-year budget cycle once it becomes available. This will be followed by a budget of $140 million in the subsequent cycle. The program is expected to benefit slightly over 5,300 workers annually.
Concerns have been raised by business groups regarding the implementation of the program. Instead, they are advocating for changes at the state and federal levels that would enable employers to hire a legal immigrant workforce in situations where there is a shortage of workers.
According to Janelle Guthrie, a spokesperson for the Building Industry Association of Washington, it is a better option to assist more workers in acquiring the required visas to work legally in the state. This way, they would be able to benefit from the state’s existing unemployment system.
Advocates argue that the proposed unemployment benefit program plays a crucial role in establishing a safety net for immigrants who face job loss and struggle to cover basic necessities such as food and housing.
Sasha Wasserstrom, policy director at the Washington Immigrant Solidarity Network, emphasized the importance of Washington’s commitment to leading the nation during challenging times. She stated, “We are working with the Legislature to continue to have Washington be that guiding light in the nation to demonstrate that in hard times, we don’t back away from a fight.”
