Gov. Jay Inslee (D-WA) signed a bill that would allow illegal immigrants to obtain commercial licenses for jobs that initially required citizenship.
Inslee signed House Bill 1889, which allows immigrants to get professional licenses using individual tax identification numbers instead of social security numbers, according to Washington State Standard.
“This bill will open doors for careers in teaching, healthcare, accounting, and many other professions to those who are ready to join the Washington workforce,” Inslee said upon signing the bill.
Democratic state Rep. Amy Walen, who sponsored the bill, said the legislation would allow everyone to “participate in our economy,” according to the Center Square.
One Republican lawmaker was reportedly skeptical of the wording in the bill, worried that the illegal immigrants would believe that they could get any job because the citizenship requirement is lifted from the commercial license. This is not something that is guaranteed.
At the bill’s signing, Inslee reassured that illegal immigrants must still meet other requirements to be hired for a given job. However, the legislation would open up more job opportunities.
Some potential jobs for which illegal immigrants could obtain professional licenses under the new law are teachers, pharmacists, architects, nurses, dentists, and dental hygienists.
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Washington’s illegal immigrant population grew within the past few years, accounting for 3.9% of the state’s residents in 2021, according to Pew Research Center.
The bill passed easily in the House and Senate and will take effect July 1, 2024.
