Washington State Sues Adams County Over Alleged Violations of Sanctuary Law

The lawsuit accuses the rural county's sheriff of unlawfully aiding federal immigration enforcement in defiance of state law.

Washington Attorney General Nick Brown filed a lawsuit against Adams County and its sheriff for allegedly violating the Keep Washington Working Act, a state sanctuary law passed in 2019.
The lawsuit claims that the Adams County Sheriff's Office has unlawfully detained individuals based solely on immigration status and shared personal information with federal immigration authorities over 200 times.
Sheriff Dale Wagner argues that cooperating with federal immigration officials enhances public safety and accuses the state of prioritizing political ideology over community security.
The county is being defended by America First Legal, a group co-founded by Trump aide Stephen Miller, which claims the state law conflicts with federal immigration regulations.
The lawsuit highlights a broader conflict between Washington’s sanctuary policies and ongoing federal immigration enforcement under the Trump administration.