Through the Static

By Hannah Saunders

In an interview several weeks ago with an extremist media group, Trump’s border czar Tom Homan said he would be coming to Seattle to show his support for ICE agents and to show “antifa and other assholes” that he would not be bullied. Homan made that trip this past week, posting on X (formerly Twitter) that enforcement within sanctuary cities, including Seattle, Tacoma, Portland, and San Diego, will be prioritized since sanctuary cities “are only sanctuaries for criminals, PERIOD.” 

“Efforts to impede immigration enforcement operations and protect public safety threats are beyond shameful. They are abhorrent and make no sense. What is wrong with state and local leaders when they refuse to work with federal law enforcement to remove dangerous people from their streets, and even better, from this country???” Homan said. 

During his visits to Seattle, Tacoma, Portland, and San Diego this past week, Homan said he spoke with ICE and Customs and Border Patrol agents, and affirmed that he would be cracking down on crime. This will transpire into local communities being terrorized by masked men, some of whom are legitimate and trained in law enforcement, but others who are civilians without employment ties to the Department of Homeland Security. 

Video footage circulating for months across social media has shown handfuls of masked men in jeans and t-shirts moving in on and arresting people without any warrants or forms of identification, who then take and disappear people. The federal allowance of ICE agents to shield their faces when hunting people to detain has allowed for random groups of men to do the same: some can be seen wearing Amazon-bought tactical vests, and the group’s clothing all differs. These are impersonators who have been kidnapping and raping women, and de-arresting knowledge and tactics are needed from community members. 

Homan said that anyone who assaults, intimidates, or interferes with federal law enforcers will be arrested and prosecuted, and that the number of prosecutions has been record-breaking. 

“President Trump promised to American voters that he will make our country safe again, and that is exactly what we are doing… with honor and without apology,” Homan said. 

On Tuesday, August 19, Washington Governor Bob Ferguson responded to a letter from U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi, in which she threatened arrest and targeted state laws that make Washington a sanctuary state. 

“Let me be very clear. Washington state will not be bullied or intimidated by threats and legally baseless accusations,” Gov. Ferguson said during a press conference. “If Pam Bondi really believed that Washington state is in conflict with federal law, she would make some effort to explain that. She did not, because she cannot.” 

In his response, Gov. Ferguson noted how Bondi did not cite any laws or policies while claiming that Washington state is out of compliance with federal laws. He noted how her letter threatens him, state officers, troopers, and judges with prison time. 

“This letter embarrasses and disgraces the Office of the United States Attorney General,” Gov. Ferguson said. “We went on to defeat the first Trump administration 55 times in court. We were unsuccessful in just three cases… if they choose to challenge me and my state, we will defeat them.” 

Trump’s regime is furthering its presence in Seattle. Paula White, senior advisor to the White House Faith Office spoke in The Pursuit churches in Seattle and Kirkland on August 17.