At least 354 immigration arrests in Washington have been linked to searches of state driver information, a more than fivefold increase in roughly three months, according to new figures from the University of Washington’s Center for Human Rights. The center had counted 64 verified cases about a year into its tracking. Its executive director, Angelina Godoy, said Tuesday that the increase was “off the charts” and could continue despite state policies intended to keep federal immigration authorities from accessing driver records. Researchers and immigrant-rights advocates called on state leaders at a news conference Tuesday to disclose how driver information is being used in immigration enforcement. They also urged Ferguson to review how the data is collected and shared and to use his authority to close gaps in state protections. “We cannot wait until the next fall to have protections for Washington residents,” said Guillermo Rivera, an organizer with Eastside For All. Washington has long allowed immigrants without legal status to apply for driver’s licenses, a policy established in 1993. The 2018 Keep Washington Working Act barred state agencies and law enforcement from sharing information with immigration authorities. But Godoy said federal agencies may still gain access through loopholes in data-sharing systems. One route is Nlets, a platform that lets law enforcement users query the Department of Licensing database for information such as a vehicle owner’s name and address. Washington began blocking queries from Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Homeland Security Investigations through Nlets last November, but Godoy said agents may be able to use another agency’s access credentials. Customs and Border Protection remains permitted to use the platform, with the state citing the agency’s work at the Canadian border and airports. Godoy said some agents seek license-plate information in neighborhoods with large immigrant populations. She emphasized that the concern is about searches through Nlets, not automated license-plate reader cameras. Driver information can also reach federal authorities through commercial data brokers, including businesses that obtain information from state agencies, or through cooperation by law enforcement and state employees. The center said it has struggled to determine whether brokers are sharing Washington driver data with immigration agencies. Sharing by state or local officials for immigration enforcement is prohibited by the Keep Washington Working Act, but researchers said it is difficult to track. Godoy advocated requiring a judicial warrant before agencies search driver data for immigration enforcement. Oregon, Colorado, Minnesota, Illinois, Virginia, Maryland and Massachusetts have warrant requirements, though the center cautioned that such policies can have gaps. A warrant rule, she said, could protect privacy while preserving law enforcement’s ability to investigate serious crimes. Ferguson said his team is reviewing how other states have restricted access and what Washington can lawfully do to require judicial warrants for civil immigration-related requests. ICE and the Department of Homeland Security did not immediately respond to requests for comment Tuesday.