Through the Static

By Hannah Saunders

Governor Bob Ferguson and Attorney General (AG) Nick Brown spoke at a January 26 press briefing to discuss preparations if a similar ICE presence in Minnesota comes to Washington. Department of Homeland (DHS) agents, which ICE falls under, have executed two Minnesotans this month, and Gov. Ferguson and AG Brown are ready to combat any such violence in Washington with lawsuits.

“Attorney General Brown and I cannot stop ICE from being in our state. We don’t have that power. No governor has that power, and no attorney general has that power. on the other hand, we are not passive bystanders to what is happening,” Gov. Ferguson said.

The state will be taking five steps in anticipation of ICE escalating its attacks on Washingtonians: Gov. Ferguson and AG Brown signed a joint-letter to DHS Secretary Kristi Noem, making it clear that a memo sent out to agents which instructs them to use force to enter homes without having a judicial warrant is unconstitutional. If ICE tries to break into people’s homes without warrants, Gov. Ferguson said it will hold the federal government accountable through every available legal option.

AG Brown said this memo ignores the 4th Amendment, which relates to unlawful searches and seizures and represents a “Constitutional crisis,” in which the founding fathers warned against.

“We also made clear in our letter that we will use every legal option available to hold individual ICE agents accountable as well. Washington state remains the national leader in holding the Trump administration accountable to the rule of law. That important work will continue.”
– Gov. Ferguson

Two new people have also been hired: a chief of the Office of Immigrant and Refugee Assistance, who will attend the governor’s cabinet meetings, and a senior advisor for immigrant and refugee issues who will ensure community concerns are elevated to Gov. Ferguson’s office.

Referencing Minnesota Governor Tim Walz’s decision to deploy its National Guard, Gov. Ferguson noted how he met with the General of Washington’s National Guard.

“I want the people of our state to know that I’ll take whatever steps are necessary to keep our residents safe,” Gov. Ferguson said.

But at the same time, local, state, and regional law enforcement officials in Minnesota and across the country have been churning out to protect ICE and DHS agents from protesters acting within the bounds of their constitutional rights. Videos in Minnesota surfaced of state law enforcement officials creating lines and facing protesters as ICE actively kidnapped people, and Portland police have repeatedly arrested protesters rather than violent agitators.

Washington’s 2026 legislative session kicked off on January 12, and Gov. Ferguson requested that Senate Bill 5855— which would ban ICE agents from wearing face coverings— be brought to his desk for signature. He said the bill has already passed the Senate Committee on Law and Justice, but that he was disappointed that every Republican on the committee voted against it.

Gov. Ferguson said he will meet with mayors, local law enforcement, local leaders, and federal leaders to ensure there are clear lines of communication between local communities and his team.

AG Brown said he didn’t want to lay out his playbook for the Trump administration, but noted that if ICE and DHS are going after the “worst of the worst,” like Trump claims, then they wouldn’t go to hospitals and schools, or bait children. Trump, he said, has no intention to abide by the Constitution.

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