Through the Static

By Hannah Saunders

On January 29, Governor Bob Ferguson responded to two Change.org petitions that seek to protect people in Washington from ICE. TtS previously reported on Capitol Hill Pride’s petition, launched on January 27. Two weeks ago, a person named Brooklyn W also started one.

Brooklyn’s petition demanded the immediate standby activation of the Washington National Guard so that they can rapidly protect civilians from ICE. It also seeks to protect residents from unlawful violence, including intimidation and use of force. Brooklyn’s petition has two more key points:

That the state takes “A Firm Stand Against Federal Authoritarianism That Washington’s elected officials refuse to tolerate any use of federal armed force that threatens the constitutional freedoms of residents,”or that state legislators draft laws that protect residents from the federal government’s ongoing illegal and violent use of force.

The Office of the Governor’s response includes:

“Governor Ferguson is firmly dedicated to upholding the rights of all Washingtonians, and is in constant communication with Washington’s top military officials, our congressional delegation, county executives, city leaders, state legislators, and community organizations about the ongoing immigration crackdown coming from the federal government.

“On Monday, January 26, Governor Ferguson held a press conference with Attorney General Nick Brown to denounce the unconstitutional actions of ‘out of control’ ICE agents in Minneapolis. The Governor is preparing for a similar escalation here in Washington, should the federal administration choose our state as its next target.

“The Governor and Attorney General also sent a letter to Secretary Kristi Noem to urge the withdrawal of ICE from Minnesota, and to call out DHS’s blatant unconstitutional memo authorizing ICE agents to enter private homes without judicial warrants – a clear violation of the Fourth Amendment.

“In 2019, the state legislature passed the Keep Washington Working Act with the primary intention to protect the rights of immigrant communities from unnecessary contact with ICE and CBP.

“The law significantly restricts the extent to which local law enforcement agencies may participate in enforcement of federal immigration laws. The Governor is committed to upholding this law, and has publicly stated that intimidation attempts from the federal government will not sway his position.

“Earlier this year, the Governor signed an Executive order to create an Immigration Sub-Cabinet to enhance coordination between state agencies, increase access to resources, and communicate effectively with community. That Executive Order also directed all state agencies to review their data collection, sharing, and retention policies to ensure they are protecting the privacy and safety of all residents.

“Also on Monday, the Governor announced that he has authorized the Chief of the Office of Refugee and Immigrant Assistance (ORIA), Sarah Peterson, to attend all cabinet meetings.

Just yesterday, SB 5855, sponsored by Senator Javier Valdez, passed through the state senate. That law will bar law enforcement from wearing face coverings. The first link also provides information on a few other immigration-related bills that the Governor supports this year.

“Washington is not standing idly by, and the Governor’s Office is actively increasing its efforts not just to respond to recent escalation, but to prepare for future scenarios.”

View the governor’s full response, which includes several resources, here.

Subscribe to our newsletter below for more!