WASHINGTON, DC—Representative Rick Larsen (WA-02), along with Representatives Pramila Jayapal (WA-07), Suzan DelBene (WA-01), Marilyn Strickland (WA-10), Emily Randall (WA-06), Adam Smith (WA-09) and Kim Schrier (WA-08) sent a letter to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Acting Director Todd Lyons and Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem demanding answers to an early morning raid in Bellingham on Wednesday that apprehended 37 undocumented individuals.
On April 2, 2025, approximately 50 masked U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement, U.S. Border Patrol, and U.S. Customs and Border Protection Air and Marine Operations agents executed a federal search warrant at Mount Baker Roofing located in Bellingham, Washington based on an ongoing criminal investigation into the unlawful employment of aliens without legal work authorization in violation of federal law.
As a result of the operation according to ICE, 37 aliens who had fraudulently represented their immigration status and submitted fraudulent documents and/or information to seek employment were administratively arrested.
ICE shared that worksite enforcement investigations focus on reducing illegal employment, holding employers accountable and protecting employment opportunities for the country’s lawful workforce.
The owner of Mount Baker Roofing, Mark Kurske, who was allegedly employing those arrested by ICE, shared with the Bellingham Herald that “the enforcement action carried out today directly harm small businesses like ours.” He added, “These hardworking individuals were actively supporting our community by helping to build the homes and install the roofs that protect us all from the elements.”
Below is a transcription of the letter signed by members of the Washington state delegation to ICE and DHS demanding answers regarding the raid in its entirety:
Dear Secretary Noem and Acting Director Lyons:
We write to express our deep concerns over the recent actions by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) across Washington State. We are especially alarmed at the recent ICE raid that took place in Bellingham, Washington. Raids like this have devastating consequences for our communities.
On Wednesday in Bellingham, ICE officers entered a workplace, pointed guns at employees, and took away 37 community members in unmarked vans. For months, the Trump administration has insisted that their deportation efforts are focused on “the worst of the worst” and true public safety threats. In reality, there is no indication that the people detained this week are anything other than dedicated parents working hard to support their families and positive contributors to their communities.
Because of this raid and other detainments across the country, the fear of being taken away at gunpoint in unmarked vans is becoming widespread. This fear leaves students and employees scared to go to class and to go to work. It cripples our small businesses and local economies. And critically, it makes it more difficult for state and local law enforcement to build and maintain trust with the communities they serve. ICE actions like the raid that took place in Bellingham are making our communities less safe.
Every individual detained has a right to due process, including the right to speak to an attorney. We will be closely monitoring these cases to ensure that ICE is following the law.
To that end, we request that you immediately provide the following information:
- Details on individuals ICE encountered during the enforcement action, including the number of people who were taken into custody, broken down by gender, age, nationality, immigration status, and rationale for targeting them in a raid.
- Information on how many of those arrested had previously received a stay of removal, order of supervision or other form of prosecutorial discretion pursuant to prosecutorial discretion guidelines in place prior to January 2017.
- Information on how many of those arrested have pending asylum claims.
- The manner in which ICE may or may not have collaborated with state and local law enforcement agencies.
Author: Mario Lotmore
2 Responses
That’s a lot of jobs Americans should have. I’m shocked that our elected officials would support illegals and condemn the lawful action to arrest these criminals. Many citizens who have gone through the immigration process correctly applaud the action of ICE. What the heck is wrong with our politicians and why do we continue to elect people that mis-use our tax dollars.
MIS-Representative Rick Larsen (WA-02), along with Representatives Pramila Jayapal (WA-07), Suzan DelBene (WA-01), Marilyn Strickland (WA-10), Emily Randall (WA-06), Adam Smith (WA-09) and Kim Schrier (WA-08) all demonstrate that they HATE the American people and LOVE illegal immigrants more. Since when does anyone of the Democrat party put America and Americans First? I’m hard pressed to think of a time in recent years with the rare exception of Fetterman but they’ll go out of their way to undermine the USA while they seek to enshrine their anti-American policies.