April 22, 2026 8:54 pm

The premier news source for Snohomish County

State health inspectors blocked again at Tacoma immigration detention center

detention center

[TACOMA | JAKE GOLDSTEIN-STREET]—Washington state health inspectors have been trying for months to enter the Tacoma immigrant detention center amid longstanding concerns about the conditions there. A federal appeals court ruling last summer paved the way for them to get in, but the private facility’s operator is still denying access, state officials say.  Officials from the state […]

US Senate passes funding for DHS, no money for ICE and CBP

dhs

WASHINGTON, D.C.—The U.S. Senate in a late night/early morning Friday vote, passed a modified version of HR-7147 to fund DHS without allocations for ICE and CBP. The bill now heads to House for concurrence. Friday morning’s vote comes just hours after President Donald J Trump threated to use his executive authority to pay TSA workers, […]

Washington House Passes Bill Banning Masked Law Enforcement Officers

MASKED LAW

OLYMPIA [Jake Goldstein-Street] — A prohibition on law enforcement covering their faces, motivated by masked federal immigration agents, is one step closer to becoming Washington law.  The state House passed the legislation along party lines Tuesday with Democrats in support. The Senate approved it in January. It now heads back to the Senate, which will need […]

‘All are welcome,’ Councilwoman pushes immigrant safety in Lynnwood

immigrant lynnwood

LYNNWOOD—A proposed resolution before the Lynnwood City Council aims to clarify the city’s stance on federal immigration enforcement and outline steps to better inform residents of their constitutional rights. After concerns from Police Chief Cole Langdon about potential legal liability for officers, Councilwoman Isabel Mata amended the measure to remove language that would have directed […]

Hundreds of Kamiak students walkout of class to protest ICE

kamiak high school

MUKILTEO—Hundreds of Kamiak High School students walked out of class on Wednesday, February 4, to protest recent ICE-related deaths and immigration enforcement “without due cause.” The walkout was organized through social media channels and word of mouth. Though Kamiak Principal Stephen Shurtleff, and several teachers, were aware of the walkout prior they approached the protest […]

Everett mayor issues Directive to shield community from ICE, encourages police intervene in federal enforcement

Franklin

EVERETT — Everett Mayor Cassie Franklin issued a directive Wednesday outlining the city’s response to federal immigration enforcement, aiming to protect residents’ privacy and civil rights amid growing concerns over aggressive tactics by federal agents. Franklin signed Mayoral Directive 2026-01 on Feb. 25, announcing it during the City Council meeting that evening. The measure, effective […]

WA lawmakers want to restrict ICE access to schools, health facilities

ICE

OLYMPIA [Jake Goldstein-Street]—Legislation to force U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to get court approval before entering schools and health care facilities cleared the Washington state Senate on Thursday.  Senate Bill 5906 covers “nonpublic areas” of preschools, K-12 schools, health facilities, adult family homes, higher education institutions and election offices.  It also prohibits early learning providers and […]

King County Executive allocates $2M for immigrant services, bars ICE from properties

king county ice

SEATTLE—King County Executive Girmay Zahilay signed his first executive order since taking office earlier this year, directing $2 million in emergency funding toward immigrant and refugee communities and barring federal immigration agents (ICE) from staging enforcement operations in non-public county properties. The move came in response to growing fears among residents over intensified federal immigration […]

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