House opens probe into Washington state sanctuary policies

House Republicans on Tuesday announced an investigation into sanctuary policies in Washington state, which the lawmakers portrayed as among the most egregious in the nation.

House Judiciary Committee Chair Jim Jordan said state law “shields criminal aliens” by barring information sharing and refusing to allow law enforcement departments to hold illegal immigrants for pickup by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

State law also forbids local agencies from entering into cooperative agreements with ICE, Mr. Jordan, Ohio Republican, said in a letter announcing the probe.

He said one former ICE official in the state had informed the committee of a murder that could have been prevented if local officers had cooperated with ICE.

“Given the dangerous nature of sanctuary jurisdictions and their active role in thwarting federal immigration enforcement, the committee is concerned about Washington’s role in undermining public safety in contravention of federal immigration law,” Mr. Jordan said in his letter, joined by immigration subcommittee Chair Tom McClintock of California and Rep. Michael Baumgartner, of Washington.

The letter asks Washington Attorney General Nick Brown to share all documents about interactions with ICE and Customs and Border Protection as well as data on the number of ICE deportation “detainer” requests state and local authorities have refused since 2023.

Mr. Jordan singled out for criticism a lawsuit Mr. Brown has mounted against the Adams County Sheriff’s Department, filed last month in a state court.

That lawsuit accuses Adams County of holding illegal immigrants for ICE in defiance of state law.

In filing the lawsuit, Mr. Brown said state law doesn’t interfere with federal authorities’ ability to enforce the law but does block cooperation by local police.

Mr. Brown also took particular aim at Stephen Miller, a senior advisor to President Trump and founder of America First Legal, which is providing legal assistance to Adams County.

Mr. Brown’s press release said Mr. Miller “has repeated white nationalist talking points and is responsible for shaping some of the Trump administration’s most draconian immigration policies, including the infamous family separation policy during the first Trump administration.”

The Washington Times has reached out to Mr. Brown’s office for this story.