Trooper didn’t violate patrol’s hands-off immigration policy

OLYMPIA – The Washington State Patrol says a trooper did not violate the agency’s policy of not enforcing immigration laws while investigating a crash that led to a man being detained by federal immigration agents.

The News Tribune reported that Armando Chavez Corona’s car was hit during a Feb. 9 collision on Interstate 5 in Tacoma. Trooper Brandy Kessler did a routine check of his driver’s license found a warning from federal authorities indicating Chavez Corona was previously a deported felon.

State Patrol spokesman Kyle Moore says the review found Kessler didn’t intentionally delay the crash investigation to give immigration agents extra time to arrive at the scene.

The review found she violated two other policies, including turning off her car’s video system before issuing Chavez Corona a ticket for driving without insurance.

State Patrol policy doesn’t prevent troopers from contacting federal immigration authorities but they do prevent troopers from detaining someone for extra time to determine immigration status.