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lite.cnn.com - on gopher - inofficial
ARTICLE VIEW:
Lawmakers push for answers days after Border Patrol detains crew
workers helping firefighters in Washington blaze
By Karina Tsui, CNN
Updated:
5:28 PM EDT, Sun August 31, 2025
Source: CNN
Just days after Washington’s largest wildfire were arrested by Border
Patrol, Washington Rep. Emily Randall — who represents the district
where the men are being held — was denied entry to the facility,
calling the situation “disgusting” in an interview with CNN
affiliate .
“This would have been my fourth visit yesterday to the ICE facility
in Tacoma, there in my district,” Randall told CNN’s Fredricka
Whitfield on Sunday. “I had done two previous announced visits and
one previous unannounced visit, which is the statutory authority of
Congress, the oversight body of ICE and Homeland Security.”
The statute the Department of Homeland Security from using its funding
to stop certain people, like members of Congress, from entering
facilities where immigrants are held, if they are there to do
oversight, but Randall was denied entry on Saturday.
In a statement to CNN on Sunday, a DHS official said, “Rep. Randall
did not follow proper protocol to schedule her visit of an ICE
detention facility. This was nothing more than a political stunt to get
media, clicks, and 15 minutes of fame. As ICE law enforcement have seen
a surge in assaults, disruptions, and obstructions to enforcement —
including by Member of Congress themselves — any requests to tour
processing centers and field offices must be approved by the Secretary
of Homeland Security.”
One of the two men arrested, his attorney , had been waiting for a
response to a U-visa application for seven years, which protects
victims of serious crimes who assist federal investigators.
“Firstly, it’s illegal to detain people who have applied for
victim-based immigration benefits, as one of the individuals who was
detained did,” Washington state Rep. Shaun Scott told CNN.
“Secondly, it’s also illegal, according to the federal
government’s own policies, to conduct immigration enforcement at
locations where emergency responses are happening,” he added.
Stephen Manning, a lawyer with Innovation Law Lab, a Portland-based
nonprofit representing one of the detainees, said US Customs and Border
Protection had concealed the whereabouts of his client –– blocking
his access to his family and lawyers.
Lawyers were able to locate the man when border officials later
published a news release on the arrests.
“The two individuals were arrested and transported to the Bellingham
Station on charges of illegal entry and 8 US Code § 1326 - Reentry of
removed aliens,” a release read.
The Department of Homeland Security told CNN on Friday the
“firefighting response remained uninterrupted the entire time” and
that the two arrested crew workers had been cutting logs into firewood.
CNN has reached out to both companies who reportedly contracted to
assist in the firefighting services.
In a statement to CNN on Saturday, Table Rock Forestry’s CEO Martin
Lopez said, “None of our employees were detained.”
“It is important to clarify that demobilization from a fire
assignment is not the same as contract termination. Our contracts
remain active,” Lopez said. “Table Rock Forestry is proud of the
professionalism and integrity of our crews, and we remain committed to
supporting wildfire suppression efforts and serving the communities
that depend on us.”
DHS had in a Thursday release that contracts with Table Rock Forestry
“were terminated following the conclusion of a criminal
investigation” by the Bureau of Land Management.
Randall said many questions remain about the raid. She also cited the
same as Scott, which restricts immigration enforcement within disaster
response zones.
“Make no mistake about it, the federal government right now is
pursuing a policy of disobedience with respect to its own stated
immigration policies,” Scott told CNN.
Randall said the visits she does are essential to carry out
constitutional oversight, especially as the centers become increasingly
crowded due to the administration’s nationwide raids.
“In previous visits, we’ve seen a stark increase in the individuals
being detained inside. We’ve seen struggles with staffing up to keep
up with the demand and the health services at the facility, and so
it’s my plan to continue going back and visiting,” Randall told
CNN’s Whitfield on Sunday.
CNN’s Michelle Watson contributed to this report.
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