Overview
- Gov. Bob Ferguson and AG Nick Brown sent a letter to Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem asserting ICE cannot force entry based on administrative authority and vowing court action, including potential liability for individual agents.
- Ferguson detailed preparations that include adding immigrant-affairs leadership to cabinet meetings, hiring an immigration policy advisor, coordinating with mayors and police, and discussing options with the Washington National Guard.
- State leaders renewed support for Senate Bill 5855 to restrict masked law enforcement interactions, while HB 2641 and HB 2648 targeting ICE-related hiring and reporting are set for public hearings on Jan. 29.
- Attorney General Brown urged residents to report suspected ICE activity to the AGO’s bias incident hotline to support monitoring and response efforts.
- Calls for restraint grew locally as Seattle’s council public safety chair urged DHS to halt city operations and Seattle police issued guidance to document encounters with uncoordinated federal deployments.