Washington AG Sues County for Cooperating With ICE Beyond State Laws, Sheriff Slams It as 'Ideology Over Safety'

Washington State Attorney General Nick Brown has filed a lawsuit against Adams County and its Sheriff's Office, alleging that they have violated state law by cooperating with federal immigration authorities beyond what is legally permitted.

The lawsuit, filed in Spokane County Superior Court, claims the sheriff's office has unlawfully detained individuals based on their immigration status, facilitated interrogations by federal agents, and shared confidential personal data with immigration officials.

"The sheriff of one of our counties is not following the law," Brown said in a statement reported by NPR affiliate KUOW in Seattle. "It is a bipartisan priority that people follow the law."

The lawsuit argues that the Adams County Sheriff's Office has engaged in these practices since at least 2022, despite previous warnings from the Attorney General's Office. Brown noted that the county had initially engaged in settlement discussions but shifted its stance after the inauguration of President Donald Trump, aligning itself with America First Legal, a group founded by former Trump advisor Stephen Miller.

Sheriff Dale Wagner, however, rejected the lawsuit's premise through a statement on Facebook, stating that the county is simply complying with federal law.

"The state's restrictions attempt to tie the hands of law enforcement, making it harder to cooperate with federal agencies that help keep dangerous individuals off our streets. Public safety should never be a political issue, yet this lawsuit prioritizes ideology over the safety of our communities"

Washington's Keep Washington Working Act, passed in 2019, prohibits local law enforcement from assisting with civil immigration enforcement, arguing that such collaboration undermines trust in law enforcement and discourages crime victims from seeking help. The law does allow for cooperation in cases involving serious criminal offenses, human trafficking, or child exploitation.

This lawsuit comes amid broader national efforts to expand local law enforcement involvement in immigration enforcement. In Florida, officials recently launched the Law Enforcement Accountability Dashboard (LEAD), allowing officers to report noncompliance with state immigration policies. Governor Ron DeSantis has warned that failure to comply could result in suspension or removal from office.

Additionally, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has increasingly turned to local law enforcement agencies to assist with deportations under the 287(g) program, which authorizes trained local officers to act as immigration agents. The Trump administration has sought to expand these agreements, which have faced legal challenges over concerns of racial profiling and civil rights violations.

Washington officials maintain that the state has the authority to determine how its law enforcement agencies operate. "Rather than do the federal government's job," the lawsuit states, "the Keep Washington Working Act ensures that Washington's limited law enforcement resources are best spent enforcing state law, solving crime, and helping ensure the state remains a place where the rights and dignity of all residents are maintained and protected."