“I want to send a message to ICE. If you need any help at all, put me on speed dial.”
– WA Sheriff Bob Songer of Klickitat County
Did you know that out of all 50 states, Washington state ranks ninth in illegal immigration? By a conservative estimate, more than 300,000 illegal immigrants are currently residing in our state. That is roughly the size of three Everetts, a city on the West Coast with approximately 100,000 residents, filled entirely with illegal immigrants. Needless to say, this level of illegal immigration has a major impact on our culture, our language, our customs, social bonding, and it also puts our citizens in danger.
Nationally there are good reasons to be optimistic because the border itself appears to be more secure, per the statistics below, as well as this online document “Promises Made, Promises Kept.”
Here in Washington State there is also good reason to be proud of local sheriffs who recently strategized with the US Attorney General in order to support Immigration & Customs Enforcement (ICE). (See main picture above.)
The bad news is that Washington State remains a “sanctuary state” (since 2019). In fact, today’s WA Attorney General Nick Brown is doing everything he can to hinder ICE. As noted below, he has sued at least one sheriff, and with your tax dollars, he published a document in 19 languages on how to avoid ICE.
Nevertheless, we praise those who honor the privilege of citizenship, of what it means to be an American, and those who are standing to defend our nation and state. We have some local heroes to recognize. Here is a sample:
• Sheriff Bob Songer of Klickitat County pledged to support ICE despite Washington State’s official policy to resist federal intervention and become a migrant safe haven. “I want to send a message to ICE. If you need any help at all, put me on speed dial.”
“When people have invaded our country across the southern border and even the northern border, Canada, our government, it’s their job to protect our American citizens by preventing that invasion,” Songer continued. “Why would any governor, any mayor, any county commissioner, or any sheriff or police chief knowingly allow criminals, serious criminals for murder, rape, whatever, protect them from immigration, protect them from ICE?”
• Pierce County Sheriff Keith Swank is another local official who has taken a stand against nonsensical legislation concerning migrants. As Senate Bill 5068, which would have authorize non-citizens to arrest citizens. Law enforcement officers, firefighters, prosecutors, and civil service agents would have no longer been required to be a U.S. citizen nor lawful permanent resident. Swank put his foot down and said, “Not on my watch.”
“I do not want to have police officers who are not citizens enforcing the laws of our country or of our state against people who are citizens. That’s what it comes down to,” Swank stated. “I don’t know how you can look at it and say, this non-citizen—and they could be a great person—is going to arrest the citizens of America under these laws. It just doesn’t make sense to me.”
• Adams County Sheriff Dale Wagner had the opportunity to testify before Congress in early April about a tragic incident that occurred in his community in 2021, when “an illegal alien murdered and dismembered a mother and her disabled daughter.” He also spoke about how Attorney General Nick Brown filed a lawsuit against him for helping ICE arrest illegal immigrants in compliance with federal law. Despite backlash from the state, he remains committed to defying sanctuary statutes so he can “keep his community safe.”
Although there are plenty of bad actors in our state who continue to prioritize the woke agenda and illegal immigration over the welfare of law-abiding citizens, there are many other courageous individuals throughout the state who are taking a stand for what is right. We hope these updates serve not just to inform you, but to inspire and encourage you that there is still hope for Washington, and there are still individuals in positions of power fighting for your safety and freedoms at the state and federal levels.
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