Lawmakers push for answers days after Border Patrol detains crew workers helping firefighters in Washington blaze Karina Tsui, CNNAugust 31, 2025 at 11:28 PM US Rep.
- - Lawmakers push for answers days after Border Patrol detains crew workers helping firefighters in Washington blaze
Karina Tsui, CNNAugust 31, 2025 at 11:28 PM
US Rep. Emily Randall stands with an aide outside of Northwest ICE Processing Center prior to making an unannounced visit, in Tacoma, Washington, on August 30, 2025. - Matt Mills McKnight/Reuters
Just days after two crew workers helping battle Washington's largest wildfire were arrested by Border Patrol, Washington Rep. Emily Randall — who represents the district where the men are being held — was denied entry to the facility, calling the situation "disgusting" in an interview with CNN affiliate KOMO.
"This would have been my fourth visit yesterday to the ICE facility in Tacoma, there in my district," Randall told CNN's Fredricka Whitfield on Sunday. "I had done two previous announced visits and one previous unannounced visit, which is the statutory authority of Congress, the oversight body of ICE and Homeland Security."
The statute prevents the Department of Homeland Security from using its funding to stop certain people, like members of Congress, from entering facilities where immigrants are held, if they are there to do oversight, but Randall was denied entry on Saturday.
In a statement to CNN on Sunday, a DHS official said, "Rep. Randall did not follow proper protocol to schedule her visit of an ICE detention facility. This was nothing more than a political stunt to get media, clicks, and 15 minutes of fame. As ICE law enforcement have seen a surge in assaults, disruptions, and obstructions to enforcement — including by Member of Congress themselves — any requests to tour processing centers and field offices must be approved by the Secretary of Homeland Security."
One of the two men arrested, his attorney said, had been waiting for a response to a U-visa application for seven years, which protects victims of serious crimes who assist federal investigators.
"Firstly, it's illegal to detain people who have applied for victim-based immigration benefits, as one of the individuals who was detained did," Washington state Rep. Shaun Scott told CNN.
"Secondly, it's also illegal, according to the federal government's own policies, to conduct immigration enforcement at locations where emergency responses are happening," he added.
Stephen Manning, a lawyer with Innovation Law Lab, a Portland-based nonprofit representing one of the detainees, said US Customs and Border Protection had concealed the whereabouts of his client –– blocking his access to his family and lawyers.
Lawyers were able to locate the man when border officials later published a news release on the arrests.
Northwest ICE Processing Center in Tacoma, Washington, on August 30, 2025. - KOMO
"The two individuals were arrested and transported to the Bellingham Station on charges of illegal entry and 8 US Code § 1326 - Reentry of removed aliens," a Thursday release read.
The Department of Homeland Security told CNN on Friday the "firefighting response remained uninterrupted the entire time" and that the two arrested crew workers had been cutting logs into firewood.
CNN has reached out to both companies who were reportedly contracted to assist in the firefighting services.
In a statement to CNN on Saturday, Table Rock Forestry's CEO Martin Lopez said, "None of our employees were detained."
"It is important to clarify that demobilization from a fire assignment is not the same as contract termination. Our contracts remain active," Lopez said. "Table Rock Forestry is proud of the professionalism and integrity of our crews, and we remain committed to supporting wildfire suppression efforts and serving the communities that depend on us."
DHS had said in a Thursday release that contracts with Table Rock Forestry "were terminated following the conclusion of a criminal investigation" by the Bureau of Land Management.
Randall said many questions remain about the raid. She also cited the same Department of Homeland Security policy as Scott, which restricts immigration enforcement within disaster response zones.
"Make no mistake about it, the federal government right now is pursuing a policy of disobedience with respect to its own stated immigration policies," Scott told CNN.
Randall said the visits she does are essential to carry out constitutional oversight, especially as the centers become increasingly crowded due to the administration's nationwide raids.
"In previous visits, we've seen a stark increase in the individuals being detained inside. We've seen struggles with staffing up to keep up with the demand and the health services at the facility, and so it's my plan to continue going back and visiting," Randall told CNN's Whitfield on Sunday.
CNN's Michelle Watson contributed to this report.
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