Hawaii governor wants new laws to protect immigrants – fast

In the wake of two fatal shootings of protesters by federal agents and amid escalating national tensions over immigration enforcement, Hawaii Governor Josh Green expressed support for expedited legislation to protect immigrants during a rally at the state Capitol on Tuesday.

Speaking to hundreds of demonstrators gathered in the Capitol rotunda, Green addressed the crowd carrying signs with messages such as “Resist Dictatorship” and “No Secret Police, No troops in our streets.”

“Obviously, this moment in America is perilous,” Green told Civil Beat after the rally, “and anything that states can do to make it clear that we’re standing up against this kind of violence and that we’re protecting people, is the right thing to do.”

The governor indicated he would welcome immigration protection bills “as fast as can be,” adding that the presence of many legislative leaders at the rally gave him hope for swift action.

However, leading state lawmakers appeared caught off guard by Green’s remarks when questioned hours later during a public Civil Beat forum previewing the upcoming legislative session. Just a day earlier, following his state of the state address, Green had suggested a less confrontational approach toward federal authorities.

“I did not know he was thinking in that direction until just now,” House Majority Leader Sean Quinlan said when asked if immigration protection bills would be fast-tracked.

Republican House Minority Leader Lauren Cheape Matsumoto indicated potential support for quick action “as long as the bills go through proper process, have public input,” while Assistant Majority Whip Chris Lee acknowledged it was the first he’d heard of Green’s position.

Tuesday’s rally came in response to recent tragedies in Minneapolis, where ICU nurse Alex Pretti was shot and killed by U.S. Customs and Border Patrol agents during protests that erupted after an ICE agent fatally shot Renee Good in her vehicle on January 7.

“Last time I checked, America believed in freedom of speech and protest and peaceful protest, and we believed that we were here to be protected by our government and supported in these moments,” Green told the crowd. “That’s not what we’ve been seeing, and it’s tragic to imagine what we’re losing in America.”

Sergio Alcubilla, director of community engagement at ACLU of Hawaii, expressed appreciation for the officials’ participation. “We wanted them to make a commitment that they’re going to protect Hawaii, and we’re grateful that they came out and did that.”

House Speaker Nadine Nakamura also addressed the gathering, emphasizing that immigrants need protection along with their rights to due process. “We have to look at the legislation before us this session to make sure that we build in protections, accountability, and penalties that will make sure that Hawaii residents are protected,” she said.

Among bills introduced this session are measures that would limit local law enforcement cooperation with immigration authorities and restrict agents’ access to “safe places” such as schools, medical facilities, courthouses, and libraries. Similar legislation died in the previous legislative session.

State Sen. Jarrett Keohokalole, who introduced several such bills in the Senate and is running for Hawaii’s 1st Congressional District seat, said he hoped committees would hear the bills quickly.

Fast-tracking legislation is rare in Hawaii, typically requiring bills to pass through minimal committees with few amendments. A notable recent example occurred in 2023 when the Legislature expedited a bill enshrining protections for abortion procedures following the Supreme Court’s overturning of Roe v. Wade.

Green was less definitive when asked about supporting specific measures that would limit local police cooperation with federal immigration authorities—policies that often designate jurisdictions as “sanctuary” locations.

“We already have our attorney general carefully separating and making sure that ICE doesn’t overreach,” Green said. He acknowledged a necessary “balance” regarding immigrants who have committed serious crimes but emphasized, “We should never be targeting our citizens, never be targeting someone who is not a citizen but is living a peaceful life working here in America.”

Green’s support for such legislation could potentially strain his relationship with the Trump administration. The governor has previously spoken about avoiding unnecessary antagonism of federal officials and has made frequent trips to Washington, D.C.

“It’s my job to try to keep an even keel with the administration so that I don’t blow my stack and put a target on our back,” Green told reporters Monday after his state address.

However, supporting sanctuary-style legislation would echo policies Trump struck down on his first day back in office and could place Hawaii among jurisdictions that have faced heightened immigration enforcement.

Liza Ryan Gill, co-coordinator of the Hawaii Coalition for Immigrant Rights, emphasized the urgency of protective measures. “We need to be ready as a state,” Gill said. “This is like a natural disaster, as we have seen in Minnesota. So urgency is key.”