ICE Ramping Up Activity in Washington State, UW Report Shows

A University of Washington Center for Human Rights report released in March 2026 documented a “powerful surge” in immigration enforcement across Washington State from October to December 2025, with the largest increases in King, Yakima, and Clark counties. The surge was driven by non-custodial street arrests using tactics including license plate queries and access to state driver’s license data. In response, multiple King County jurisdictions including Seattle, Tukwila, Seatac, Kent, and Renton have passed one-year moratoriums on new or expanded immigration detention facilities.