Ferguson, lawmakers and advocates reject AG Bondi’s letter, vow to defend Keep Washington Working Act

SEATTLE — Gov. Bob Ferguson and a coalition of state lawmakers and immigrant-rights advocates on Monday rejected a letter from U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi that labels Washington a "so called sanctuary jurisdiction," saying the missive cites no specific policies or legal authority and amounts to posturing.

"Washington state will not be bullied or intimidated by threats and legally baseless accusations," Ferguson said, reading from and responding to the letter. He said the letter invokes federal obstruction, conspiracy and harboring statutes but “makes no effort whatsoever to explain” which state actions, if any, it alleges violate federal law.

The governor said he believes the letter targets the Keep Washington Working Act, a bipartisan state law he called carefully crafted to limit the diversion of state and local resources to federal immigration enforcement. "We're not gonna change that law and weaken it in response to these threats," Ferguson said.

State senator Lisa Wellman, the bill's prime sponsor, said the law was the product of a three-year process backed by more than 150 organizations and argued enforcement-driven labor disruptions have harmed Washington's agriculture and other industries. "Do your **** job and leave us the hell alone," she said, using a censored expletive when criticizing federal enforcement priorities.

State Representative Julio Cortez emphasized immigrants' contributions to Washington's economy and communities and said the law helps ensure that people who call emergency services or drive their children to school will not be deterred by fear of immigration enforcement.

Malou Chavez, executive director of the Northwest Immigrant Rights Project, warned that recent federal enforcement changes are producing fear in immigrant communities. Chavez said the Tacoma Immigration Detention Center was at roughly 560 of 575 capacity and said people are self-deporting or otherwise losing ties to their communities.

Reporters asked whether the state could weather the loss of federal funding if the federal government responded by withholding grants. Ferguson acknowledged the risk — noting that about 28% of Washington's state budget comes from federal dollars — and said state officials, including the attorney general's office and the treasurer's office, are working to preserve those funds while defending state law and values.

When asked whether the state expects litigation, Ferguson said he did not know what the federal government will do next but that Washington is prepared to litigate if necessary, citing his experience as a former state attorney general. "If they choose to challenge me and my state, we will defeat them and seek all appropriate costs and fees," he said.

A questioner raised a separate public-safety objection, saying that sanctuary policies had earlier prevented cooperation that might have removed an individual later convicted of killing Washington State Patrol Trooper Christopher Gadd. Ferguson said the Keep Washington Working Act seeks an appropriate balance: "If folks violate the law, engage in criminal conduct, they're gonna be held accountable for that here in Washington state whether you're documented or undocumented."

Ferguson said state teams are in contact with other jurisdictions and would coordinate legal and operational responses as appropriate. He closed by thanking the many organizations and officials who joined the event and by repeating that Washington "is not backing down" from defending its laws and immigrant communities.

The federal government has not, as of this press conference, filed suit; Ferguson and state officials said they would continue to monitor developments and cooperate with the state attorney general's office on legal strategy.