Officials say they are coordinating after reports Washingtonians deported to Djibouti

During the press conference, an audience member raised allegations that a Washington resident identified as "Tuan," who reportedly served 25 years in state custody, had been transferred to ICE custody and was being held in Djibouti. The questioner asked what elected officials were doing to bring him home and to stop what they described as a transfer process that bypassed due process.

Rep. Pramila Jayapal said members of Congress held a "shadow hearing" and that she and other federal lawmakers are working with the attorneys representing people allegedly deported to third countries. "We're happy to coordinate with you on that particular individual," Jayapal said, adding that attorneys told lawmakers the detained people had not received due process: "None of them have had due process. None of them have been able to get in touch with their attorneys. We're very aware, and I'm happy to speak with you more on that."

Governor Ferguson offered to follow up after the press conference and said his staff and members of Jayapal's office would meet with the questioner to learn more about the situation and see what could be done. Officials did not provide immediate details about specific federal responses or timelines; Jayapal said the group was "working very closely with the attorneys" and that legal and oversight efforts were underway.

No formal remedy or timeline was announced during the press conference. Officials said they would take questions after the event and continue to coordinate across federal and state staff to address individual cases raised by members of the public.