By Hannah Saunders

On August 27, two wildland firefighters who were working to put out the Bear Gulch Fire in the Olympic National Forest were arrested by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents. The firefighters were transported to Bellingham and are facing charges of illegal entry. 

CBP said its Port Angeles Patrol Station helped the Bureau of Land Management and the U.S. Forest Service identify all 44 firefighters because employment contracts with two companies (Table Rock Forestry Inc. and ASI Arden Solutions Inc.) ended due to a criminal investigation by the Bureau. 

“While we don’t have all of the details yet, this is all occurring at a time when the Trump administration’s crude and inhumane approach to immigration enforcement has intentionally and unnecessarily stoked fear and mistrust among members of the public— including firefighters,” Dave Upthegrove, Commissioner of Public Lands, said. 

Governor Bob Ferguson posted on social media expressing his worry and noted how his team is gathering more information about the situation. 

“U.S. Border Patrol steadfastly enforces the laws of the United States and unapologetically addresses violations of immigration law wherever they are encountered,” stated Sector Chief Patrol Agent Rosario P. Vasquez. 

These arrests come shortly after Trump’s border czar, Tom Homan, said he will increase immigration enforcement in sanctuary cities, and after Attorney General Pam Bondi threatened Gov. Ferguson in a letter due to its sanctuary status regarding immigration enforcement.