EVERETT—U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) released a blistering attack Friday on Everett Mayor Cassie Franklin, accusing her of escalating dangers to federal officers and residents by ordering city workers and police to block and even intervene in ICE operations — a move they say will only flood the streets with more visible federal agents to apprehend illegal immigrants.
In a strongly worded statement posted to X, ICE condemned Mayoral Directive 2026-01, signed by Franklin on Feb. 25 and announced at that evening’s City Council meeting.
The directive, effective immediately, bars ICE agents from non-public areas of Everett facilities without a judicial warrant, requires employees to notify superiors and the mayor’s office of any federal presence, and directs Everett police to document interactions while intervening if they witness “excessive force,” as reported by the Lynnwood Times.
“Cassie Franklin… escalates tension and directs city law enforcement to INTERVENE WITH ICE OPERATIONS AT THEIR OWN DISCRETION — putting everyone at greater risk,” the ICE statement read. It further charged that the policy forces city workers to “impede ICE operations and expose the location of ICE officers and agents,” ultimately driving enforcement into neighborhoods and increasing the federal footprint.
Mayor Franklin’s directive stems from resident fears amid stepped-up immigration enforcement nationwide and locally.
“We’ve heard directly from residents who are afraid to leave their houses because of the concerning immigration activity happening locally and across our country,” Franklin said in a statement. “It’s heartbreaking to see the impacts on Everett families and businesses. With this directive, we are setting clear protocols, protecting access to services and reinforcing our commitment to serving the entire community.”
The order creates an Interdepartmental Response Team, mandates privacy training, promotes “know your rights” resources for immigrant businesses and reaffirms the Everett Police Department’s refusal to assist in civil immigration enforcement under Washington’s Keep Washington Working Act. It also calls for signage restricting access and coordination with Latino community groups.
ICE countered that cooperation, not confrontation, is the solution — specifically urging a 287(g) partnership that deputizes local officers for immigration duties.
“Working AGAINST ICE forces federal teams into the community searching for criminal illegal aliens released from local jails — INCREASING THE FEDERAL PRESENCE,” the agency said. “Working with ICE reduces the federal presence… If Mayor Franklin wanted to protect the people she claims to serve, she’d empower the city police with an ICE 287g partnership — instead she serves criminal illegal aliens.”
President Donald J Trump has repeatedly stated that immigration—particularly illegal immigration—poses a national security threat to the United States.
Border Czar Tom Homan announced earlier this year that there were 2 million “got aways” in the U.S. under the Biden Administration opening the homeland to foreign terror attacks by cartels and Islamists terror cells.
During a Pentagon press briefing on March 2, 2026, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth told reporters that U.S. forces are ready to counter possible Iranian sleeper cell attacks on U.S. soil when asked by a reporter on the topic.
As reported by the Lynnwood Times back in December 2025, National Counterterrorism Center Director Joe Kent shared that his agency has identified approximately 18,000 known and suspected terrorists that the Biden Administration let come into the country who have ties to Jihadist groups like ISIS and Al-Qaeda.
Director Kent stated that this threat to the homeland stems from lax vetting and border policies for the Biden administration.
ICE has reportedly arrested 1,416 known or suspected terrorists 2025 as part of its deportation efforts.
Saed Ali Mirreh,19, of Kent, Washington, was arrested and charged with conspiring to provide material support to ISIS, in connection to that foiled 2025 Halloween terrorism plot in Michigan.
Then on November 26, 2025, an ambush shooting of National Guard in Washington, D.C., was carried out by Rahmanullah Lakanwal, a 29-year-old Afghan national who had been living in Bellingham, Washington after resettling under Operation “Allies Welcome.”
Mayor Franklin now joins a list of Washington state elected officials who are on the Trump administration’s radar now considered deepening friction between their sanctuary-leaning policies and the administration’s aggressive deportation and national security push.
Author: Mario Lotmore
2 Responses
Says Lynnwood who exploits working people with their excessive red light camera tickets. I got a ticket for 5 miles over the speed limit in a school zone when school was not present in Covid. The culture is to monetize on innocent working folks. In fact, Everett modeled their red light tickets on “what not to do” from Lynnwood. My entire family has gotten tickets from Lynnwood not in any other city and none of us live in Lynnwood? The data is compelling and statistically I don’t know what the odds that would occur. Meanwhile, Lynnwood has another claim to fame on the Netflix movie called Unbelievable because they didn’t believe a vulnerable rape victim.
“President Donald J Trump has repeatedly stated that immigration—particularly illegal immigration—poses a national security threat to the United States.”
So all immigrants Donald? The origin of all citizens in America besides native Americans?
The people who formed the basis for our country that make it great? Those people?
Just wanted to clear on that, you hate them all Mr. President, but especially the ones that don’t look like you.
Glad to see at Everett’s mayor taking a stand against the thugs. If they weren’t so ham fisted and lethal in their tactics we wouldn’t have the current situation.