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2d ago

Congresswoman Says Two Wildfire Contractors Arrested in Washington Are Held at Tacoma ICE Facility

Border agents questioned 44 contractor crew members at the Bear Gulch fire after a BLM-requested check tied to a criminal probe.

Northwest ICE Processing Center in Tacoma, Washington, on August 30, 2025.
U.S. Representative Emily Randall stands with an aide outside of Northwest ICE Processing Center prior to making an unannounced visit, in Tacoma, Washington, U.S., August 30, 2025. Randall made the visit to check on firefighters detained by U.S. Customs and Border Protection while assisting firefighting efforts at the Bear Gulch Fire in the Olympic National Forest, within her district.
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Overview

  • Rep. Emily Randall said ICE personnel confirmed the two detained workers are in custody at the Tacoma detention center, though federal officials have not identified them.
  • DHS said the workers were assigned to support tasks rather than frontline firefighting and that the response to the blaze continued without interruption.
  • CBP said Border Patrol verified the identities of 44 contracted crew members at BLM’s request, arresting two and escorting 42 others off federally managed land.
  • CBP said BLM moved to terminate the contractors’ agreements following an unspecified criminal investigation involving the companies.
  • Washington leaders, including Gov. Bob Ferguson and Lands Commissioner Dave Upthegrove, criticized the enforcement at an active incident, as the Bear Gulch fire stands at roughly 9,000 acres with about 13% containment.