SEATTLE — U.S. Attorney General Pamela Bondi has issued a stern warning to Washington Governor Bob Ferguson, urging compliance with federal immigration enforcement efforts.
In a letter dated August 13, Bondi informed Ferguson that Washington has been identified as a jurisdiction with sanctuary policies that hinder federal immigration enforcement.
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“You are hereby notified that your jurisdiction has been identified as one that engages in sanctuary policies and practices that thwart federal immigration enforcement to the detriment of the interests of the United States,” Bondi wrote. “This ends now.”
In the letter, Bondi claims “so-called sanctuary jurisdiction policies have undermined this necessary cooperation and obstructed federal immigration enforcement, giving aliens cover to perpetrate crimes in our communities and evade the immigration consequences that federal law requires.”
The letter also said that federal agencies will be able to evaluate their “authority to issue grants, contracts, and federal funds, to determine whether immigration-related terms and conditions may be added,” in an effort to pressure jurisdictions to comply with federal immigration law.
Bondi states that Ferguson has until Aug. 19 to submit a response that “confirms your commitment to complying with federal law and identifies the immediate initiatives you are taking to eliminate laws, policies, and practices that impede federal immigration enforcement.”
The letter represents an escalation in the ongoing conflict between the federal administration and states with sanctuary policies, particularly those led by Democrats, over President Donald Trump’s strict immigration agenda.
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The U.S. Department of Justice recently listed Washington state as a “sanctuary jurisdiction,” a designation that could lead to the loss of federal funding if the state does not comply with federal immigration directives.
Despite the federal pressure, Ferguson has so far resisted aligning with the Trump administration’s mass-deportation policies.
In a public response to Bondi posted to social media, Ferguson stated his perspective clearly:
Washington state has no intention of changing our values in the face of threats from the Trump administration.
“The federal government’s relentless targeting of law-abiding immigrants is wrong,” Ferguson continued.
He explicitly advocated for one of the laws that is classified as non-compliant, the Keep Washington Working Act. The act, passed in 2019, significantly restricts local law enforcement’s ability to collaborate with federal immigration enforcement.
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“The Keep Washington Working Act is an important law that helps protect Washington families in the face of this assault. The Keep Washington Working Act requires our state and local law enforcement to focus on keeping Washingtonians safe, rather than allowing limited resources to be used for federal immigration enforcement,” Ferguson stated.
Ferguson concluded the public announcement by stating he will issue a full response to Bondi on the 19th.
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