UPDATE: August 19, 2025 a 4:01 p.m.
Washington Senator Maria Cantwell responded on Tuesday to the letter from U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi.
“Our limited state and local law enforcement resources are needed to fight violent crime and fentanyl. Washington law prioritizes public safety and provides due process. The Trump administration should stop threatening states and focus on upholding the rule of law and the U.S. Constitution,” Senator Cantwell stated.
UPDATE: August 19, 2025 a 1:25 p.m.
Governor Bob Ferguson held a press conference Tuesday addressing the letter sent by Attorney General Pamela Bondi, which labeled Washington as a “sanctuary jurisdiction” and demanded compliance with President Trump’s federal immigration policies.
“[Bondi] refers to unidentified policies and practices within Washington state that she asserts violate federal law, once again without any explanation whatsoever,” Ferguson said.
Ferguson also highlighted a portion of Bondi’s letter suggesting potential criminal charges for state officials that refused to comply.
“A letter like this cannot be normalized,” Ferguson said. “Washington state will not be bullied or intimidated by threats and legally baseless accusations.”
“In the America that I love, and have taught my children to revere, we resolve our differences peacefully through public discourse, and if necessary through the courts—not by threatening political opponents with imprisonment,” Ferguson said.
UPDATE: August 18
Late Monday, Washington Gov. Bob Ferguson announced that he will hold a press conference on Tuesday in response to the Attorney General Pamela Bondi.
OLYMPIA, Wash. — The U.S. Department of Justice has notified Washington Gov. Bob Ferguson that the state has been identified as a “sanctuary jurisdiction” under a recent executive order from President Donald Trump.
According to a letter from Attorney General Pamela Bondi, the state’s laws and policies “thwart federal immigration enforcement” and may violate federal statutes.
The letter cites Executive Order 14,287, issued in April, which directs federal agencies to identify sanctuary jurisdictions, notify them of potential violations, and evaluate ways to impose immigration-related conditions on grants, contracts, and federal funding.
Bondi wrote that jurisdictions with policies deemed to obstruct federal immigration enforcement could face consequences, including potential criminal charges for individuals who “facilitate violations of federal immigration laws or impede lawful federal immigration operations,” and civil liability for state or local governments.
Washington was ordered to submit a response by Aug. 19 confirming compliance with federal law and outlining steps to change any laws, policies, or practices that may impede federal immigration enforcement.
The governor’s office replied to NonStop Local’s email request over the the letter with the following statement:
“Washington state has no intention of changing our values in the face of threats from the Trump administration. The federal government’s relentless targeting of law-abiding immigrants is wrong. The Keep Washington Working Act is an important law that helps protect Washington families in the face of this assault,” Ferguson said. “The Keep Washington Working Act requires our state and local law enforcement to focus on keeping Washingtonians safe, rather than allowing limited resources to be used for federal immigration enforcement. Protecting hardworking Washingtonians who are abiding by our state laws and keeping families together reflect our values as a state.”
