A regional dispute over local cooperation with federal immigration authorities escalated this week after Klickitat County Sheriff Bob Songer confirmed he has been sending the county’s jail roster to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. According to reporting by The Columbian, Songer acknowledged the practice and stated that he intended to continue it.

The disclosure matters well beyond Klickitat County’s borders. Washington’s Keep Washington Working Act, codified in RCW 10.93.160, bars local law enforcement agencies from sharing nonpublic personal information with federal immigration authorities. The law was passed to establish a bright line between state and local policing and federal civil immigration enforcement. In a statement quoted by the outlet, Sheriff Songer asserted that he had “made it clear” he would work with ICE despite the statute’s restrictions.

The sheriff’s stance places Klickitat County at odds with statewide policy and raises concerns in communities along the I‑5 corridor, including Longview and Kelso, where residents and local officials have relied on the state law to maintain predictable boundaries between local policing and federal immigration activity. While Klickitat County is outside Cowlitz County, state laws governing law enforcement cooperation apply uniformly, and resistance in one jurisdiction can create ripple effects for the rest of Southwest Washington.

According to reporting by The Columbian, the sheriff contends that sharing the jail roster is consistent with his office’s duties. State law, however, does not permit local agencies to share nonpublic jail information for the purpose of civil immigration enforcement. The sheriff’s comments have prompted renewed scrutiny from legal observers and immigrant‑rights groups who argue that the state’s statutory protections are only effective when county agencies comply with them.

The issue also raises procedural questions for neighboring counties. Local defense attorneys and community advocates in Cowlitz County have for years warned that inconsistent cooperation practices across county lines can affect whether residents feel safe reporting crimes, seeking services, or interacting with law enforcement. While no similar violations have been publicly confirmed in Cowlitz County, the situation in Klickitat County highlights the importance of monitoring how county-level agencies interpret and implement statewide law.

As of February 28, 2026, the state has not released any public enforcement action related to the sheriff’s statements. The Keep Washington Working Act authorizes the state attorney general to investigate noncompliance, but such actions typically require documented patterns or complaints. Whether the sheriff’s admission prompts formal review remains an open question.

For now, the situation underscores a growing tension between state-level directives and local elected sheriffs who view cooperation with federal agencies differently. Communities along Southwest Washington’s I‑5 corridor, where many rely on clear and predictable boundaries in law enforcement interactions, will be watching closely for any further state response.

Sources:
The Columbian: ‘I have made it clear that I will work with ICE’: Klickitat County sheriff sends jail roster to ICE in violation of Keep Washington Working Act
Revised Code of Washington: RCW 10.93.160