Washington Wildfire Firefighters Detained by ICE: Two firefighters battling the Bear Gulch fire in Olympic National Forest are held in Tacoma ICE detention center, sparking outrage and prompting Congressional intervention. A U.S. congresswoman confirmed their detention after a visit to the facility
Washington Rep. Emily Randall visited Tacoma's ICE detention center Saturday after two firefighters battling the Bear Gulch wildfire were detained. The congresswoman, whose district includes both the fire and the facility, was denied entry but confirmed the firefighters' detainment by ICE officials following a BLM investigation and Border Patrol intervention
Washington Wildfire Firefighters Detained by ICE: Rep. Randall confirms two firefighters battling the 9,000-acre Bear Gulch fire in Olympic National Forest are being held at a Tacoma ICE detention center. Despite being denied entry, Rep. Randall verified their detention with officials. The firefighters, employed by contracted companies, were arrested following a Bureau of Land Management investigation
Federal authorities remain silent on the identities of two firefighters detained Wednesday by U.S. Border Patrol while battling the Bear Gulch wildfire in Washington state. The firefighters, held at a Tacoma ICE detention center, are employees of companies whose contracts were terminated following a BLM criminal investigation
Washington Firefighters Detained: Congresswoman Denied Access to ICE Facility
U.S. Representative Emily Randall reports being unable to speak with two firefighters detained by ICE agents in Tacoma, Washington, after they were arrested while battling the Bear Gulch wildfire. The firefighters, employed by contracted firefighting companies, were apprehended following a Bureau of Land Management investigation. Their detention at the ICE facility raises concerns about immigration enforcement impacting wildfire response efforts
Oregon wildfire firefighter unlawfully detained by ICE, lawyer claims. Portland attorney Stephen Manning is representing an Oregon resident, detained following a BLM investigation and Border Patrol intervention at the Bear Gulch fire. Manning's letter to Senator Ron Wyden seeks the firefighter's release, citing unlawful detention and a pending visa application
Oregon resident and wildfire firefighter unlawfully detained by ICE. Lawyer Stephen Manning seeks Senator Wyden's intervention for his client, who immigrated to the U.S. at age four and is awaiting a visa application response following a crime victimization in Oregon. The client, a long-term Oregon resident, faces deportation despite his contributions fighting wildfires
Following a completed criminal investigation, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) terminated contracts with firefighting companies. This action, announced Thursday by U.S. Customs and Border Protection, resulted from a request by the BLM to Border Patrol for identity verification of 44 crew members; two were subsequently arrested
During a wildfire response in Washington's Olympic National Forest, Border Patrol agents, at the request of the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), conducted identity verification checks on 44 wildfire crew members. This action resulted in the arrest of two individuals for immigration violations, while 42 others were escorted from federal land
Washington Wildfire: Two Firefighters Detained by ICE After July 6th Outbreak
Washington Wildfire Firefighters Detained: Congresswoman Condemns BLM-Border Patrol Coordination
Rep. Randall denounces the unprecedented collaboration between the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and Border Patrol, resulting in the detention of two firefighters battling the 9,000-acre Bear Gulch fire in Olympic National Forest. Despite the fire posing no immediate threat to homes or lives thanks to the crews' tireless efforts, these firefighters are now held in an ICE detention center. This incident highlights concerns over immigration enforcement impacting wildfire response efforts
Washington Wildfire Firefighters Detained: DHS clarifies that two individuals detained by Border Patrol while supporting firefighting efforts in the Olympic National Forest were not actively fighting the fire and that their arrests did not impede fire suppression
Washington State Department of Natural Resources Commissioner Dave Upthegrove stated that details surrounding the criminal investigation into the wildfire contractors remain unclear
Washington firefighters detained by ICE amidst Trump-era immigration enforcement crackdown. Rep. Randall denounces the inhumane detention of two firefighters battling the Bear Gulch wildfire, highlighting the Trump administration's policies that fueled fear and mistrust within the community
For 20 years, HuffPost has been a fearless voice for truth. Support our journalism and help us continue investigating critical stories like the detention of firefighters battling wildfires. Your contribution keeps our vital reporting alive
We remain committed to providing you with the unflinching, fact-based journalism everyone deserves.
Thank you again for your support along the way. We’re truly grateful for readers like you! Your initial support helped get us here and bolstered our newsroom, which kept us strong during uncertain times. Now as we continue, we need your help more than ever. We hope you will join us once again.
We remain committed to providing you with the unflinching, fact-based journalism everyone deserves.
Thank you again for your support along the way. We’re truly grateful for readers like you! Your initial support helped get us here and bolstered our newsroom, which kept us strong during uncertain times. Now as we continue, we need your help more than ever. We hope you will join us once again.
Already contributed? Log in to hide these messages.
ICE officials have criticized the Trump administration’s push for high daily arrest quotas that have led to the detention of thousands of individuals with no criminal record, as well as long-term green card holders, others with legal visas, and even some U.S. citizens, according to Reuters reporting.
(Reporting by Matt McKnight in Tacoma; Additional reporting by Ted Hesson and Valerie Volcovici in Washington. Editing by Donna Bryson and Richard Chang)
Source: Original Article