Gov. Ferguson Signs EO Creating Washington Immigration Sub-Cabinet

(WASHINGTON, UNITED STATES) Washington Governor Bob Ferguson has signed Executive Order 25-09 creating an Immigration Sub-Cabinet to coordinate state-level action on immigrant rights and services, with the order taking effect on September 25, 2025. The move formalizes a multi-agency effort to align policy, protect data, and strengthen support for immigrant families across Washington, while responding to ongoing debates about the balance between state and federal roles in immigration enforcement.

the Immigration Sub-Cabinet will be co-led by the Office of Equity, the Governor’s Office, and the Office of Financial Management, and include representatives from each state cabinet agency. Officials will meet on a regular schedule and deliver quarterly reports to the Governor with specific recommendations, including policy changes and budget integration for immigrant-serving programs. According to analysis by VisaVerge.com, the structure signals a sustained, cross-agency approach rather than a short-term task force, and positions the state to respond faster to shifting federal policies.

Structure, Leadership, and Reporting

• Co-leads: Office of Equity, Governor’s Office, Office of Financial Management.
• Membership: Representatives from every cabinet-level state agency.
• Meeting cadence: Regularly scheduled meetings (standing group).
• Reporting: Quarterly reports to the Governor with recommendations on policy, budgets, and program alignment.

The Sub-Cabinet is designed as a lasting, cross-agency mechanism—meant to coordinate action and adapt quickly to federal policy changes rather than act as a temporary task force.

Policy Direction and Agency Tasks

The Executive Order assigns several concrete responsibilities to the Immigration Sub-Cabinet and state agencies:

• Coordinated leadership and membership
  • A standing group led jointly by the Office of Equity, the Governor’s Office, and the Office of Financial Management, drawing members from every cabinet-level agency.
• Data privacy and safety
  • Review how agencies collect, share, and retain personal information.
  • Focus on protecting immigrant communities from misuse of data, including risks tied to identity verification, information requests, and staff training.
• Program alignment and budgeting
  • Review healthcare programs, the Keep Washington Working Act, and other immigrant rights efforts.
  • Present options to integrate immigrant-serving programs into state budgets for more stable funding.
• Community engagement
  • Regular consultation with local stakeholders and advocacy groups.
  • Ensure community feedback is woven into the Sub-Cabinet’s work plan.
• Quarterly reporting
  • Deliver formal updates to the Governor outlining progress and new policy ideas that reflect the state’s stated values.

The order’s data mandate is particularly notable. Agencies must examine systems to reduce risks tied to personal records and ensure privacy protections keep pace with current threats and technologies. Practically, that could impact:

• Identity verification processes
• Responses to records or information requests
• Staff training on data handling
• Rules limiting sharing of immigration-related data when not required by law

Background: State Authority vs. Federal Enforcement

Executive Order 25-09 builds on the Keep Washington Working Act (2019), which limits state and local participation in federal civil immigration enforcement. That law has prompted debate about potential conflicts with federal authority.

• Supporters: State leaders argue Washington’s approach follows federal law and note similar laws in other states—such as Illinois—that have survived legal challenges.
• Critics: Some contend limits on cooperation could frustrate federal enforcement, creating possible clashes.

Responsibilities tied to these tensions:

1. The Attorney General’s office will monitor litigation trends.
2. Agencies must align their policies within the state framework.
3. The Sub-Cabinet will flag pressure points that could be legally challenged and propose fixes to prevent litigation.

While the executive order doesn’t change statutes, it provides agencies a roadmap to apply current laws consistently.

Stakeholder positions:

• The American Civil Liberties Union of Washington holds that state budgets and personnel should not be used for federal immigration work.
• Washington GOP Chair Rep. Jim Walsh warns that restrictions could have consequences if they impede federal operations.

The Sub-Cabinet’s quarterly reports may become an ongoing record of how the state balances these competing views in practical settings like schools, hospitals, and workplaces.

Implementation Outlook and Community Impact

As of September 30, 2025, Executive Order 25-09 is active and the Immigration Sub-Cabinet is operational. The immediate tasks are procedural: establishing meetings, assigning leads, and setting a reporting calendar. Yet the downstream effects are concrete and affect daily life.

Potential impacts for communities:

• Mixed-status families: Clearer privacy rules may reduce fear about clinic visits or accessing services.
• Entrepreneurs without certain documents: Aligned state guidance can streamline licensing and compliance.
• Farmworkers and caregivers: Consistent rules can help them seek services without conflicting messages.

Important limits and clarifications:

• The order addresses data, coordination, and community input—not federal visa issuance or deportation.
• It does not change federal processes or create new immigration benefits.
• The Sub-Cabinet’s exploration of budget integration could stabilize funding for outreach, language access, and legal referral networks—helpful for long-term planning by local partners.

The state frames these steps as consistent with civil rights obligations. Actions like privacy checks and standardized policies are intended to:

• Align agency practices with anti-discrimination rules
• Limit improper sharing of sensitive information
• Clarify when and how agencies respond to requests linked to immigration status

Accountability is built in via the quarterly reporting requirement; agencies must show progress, not just issue statements.

Coordination, Rapid Response, and Practical Benefits

For practitioners in education, health, and labor, the Sub-Cabinet serves as a central clearinghouse to:

• Circulate guidance when federal rules change or court decisions occur
• Prevent inconsistent departmental responses
• Provide faster, coordinated updates during rapid policy shifts across administrations

VisaVerge.com suggests similar structures work best when:

• Timelines are public
• Engagement is continuous
• Agencies share metrics, not just plans

Advocates and industry groups will closely watch how the Sub-Cabinet handles three sensitive areas:

• Data sharing with federal agencies
• On-the-ground cooperation with federal immigration officers
• Budget choices for immigrant-serving programs

Each has tangible consequences for safety, access, and the capacity of local partners.

How Residents Can Access Resources

Residents should continue using existing agency channels for state services. For official information about the Sub-Cabinet and state equity efforts, the Washington State Office of Equity maintains public resources at:
Office of Equity (Washington State)

Note:

• For visa or status questions, rely on federal sites and agencies.
• For services like health coverage eligibility, worker protections, and professional licensing, contact the relevant state agencies.

Near-Term Tests and Measures of Success

Key near-term benchmarks:

1. Delivery of the first quarterly report—an early test of whether agencies propose concrete steps on privacy, training, and budget alignment.
2. Evidence that community feedback appears in recommendations and implementation plans.
3. Public timelines and shared metrics that demonstrate progress beyond planning.

If successful, Washington could offer a model for other states seeking coordinated immigrant-serving policies while remaining within state authority.

The order’s core message: Washington intends to protect resident data, keep state services open and safe for immigrant communities, and ensure decisions are coordinated at the top. The Immigration Sub-Cabinet is the state’s new engine for that work, and its effectiveness will show up in the details—how forms are processed, how data is stored, and how families experience interactions with public offices.