Overview

• U.S. Customs and Border Protection says it detained two contracted firefighters on Aug. 27 after identity checks tied to a Bureau of Land Management criminal investigation.
• Authorities verified a 44-person crew from Table Rock Forestry and ASI Arden Solutions and allowed the other 42 firefighters to remain on the fire line.
• One detainee is an Oregon resident awaiting a U-visa, and his attorneys allege he was initially denied access to a phone and counsel before later reaching an attorney in ICE custody.
• Rep. Andrea Salinas says her constituent was first held at a CBP facility in Bellingham and then transferred to the Northwest ICE Processing Center in Tacoma, where he received a phone call and legal access.
• The Bear Gulch fire has grown to more than 9,200 acres and is 13% contained, and officials said overall firefighting operations continued during the detentions.