PSPINC CEO Kenichi Uchikura's Blog

Office uf the Attorney General
Washington, B.C. 20530
August 13, 2025

 

Bob Ferguson
Governor of Washington

 

clo Office of the General Counsel
416 14th Avenue S.W.

 

Olympia, WA 98504

 

Dear Governor Ferguson,

 

‘The United States has a long history of cooperation with state and local law enforcement
agencies, including for immigration enforcement. Such cooperation is vital to enforce federal law
and protect national security. Recognizing that need, Congress has codified the duty of states and
local governments to cooperate in immigration enforcement efforts.

 

For too long, so-called sanctuary jurisdiction policies have undermined this necessary
cooperation and obstructed federal immigration enforcement, giving aliens cover to perpetrate
crimes in our communities and evade the immigration consequences that federal law requires.

 

Under President Trump’s leadership, full cooperation by state and local governments in
immigration enforcement efforts is a top priority. To ensure such cooperation, the President has
directed the Attorney General of the United States, in coordination with the Secretary of
Homeland Security, to identify sanctuary jurisdictions and notify them of their unlawful
sanctuary status and potential violations of federal law. Additionally, the President directed
federal agencies to identify and evaluate their statutory authority to issue grants, contracts, and
federal funds, to determine where immigration-related terms and conditions may be added to
combat sanctuary policies that violate federal immigration law. See Executive Order 14,287,
Protecting American Communities from Criminal Aliens, 90 Fed. Reg. 18761 (April 28, 2025).
‘As contemplated by the Executive Order, designation as a sanctuary jurisdiction may result in
additional consequences and further agency actions as permitted by law. See id.

 

As the chief law enforcement officer of the United States, I am committed to identifying
state and local laws, policies, and practices that facilitate violations of federal immigration laws
or impede lawful federal immigration operations, and taking legal action to challenge such laws,
policies, or practices. Individuals operating under the color of law, using their official position to
obstruct federal immigration enforcement efforts and facilitating or inducing illegal immigration
may be subject to criminal charges. As such, I have instructed that all litigating components of
the Department and each U.S. Attorney’s Office shall investigate incidents involving any such
potential unlawful conduct and shall, where supported by the evidence, prosecute violations of
federal laws such as 8 U.S.C. § 1324, 18 U.S.C. § 371, 18 U.S.C. § 1071, and 18 U.S.C. § 1505.
State and local entities, particularly those with policies in violation of 8 U.S.C. § 1373 and

 

Letter to Bob Ferguson Page 2
Governor of Washington

 

§ 1644, may also be subject to civil liability.
Further, pursuant to President Trump's directive in Executive Order 14,287, the

 

Department has compiled a list of sanctuary jurisdictions.’ This list is based on a review of laws,
policies, and practices of the identified jurisdictions.

 

You are hereby notified that your jurisdiction has been identified as one that engages in
sanctuary policies and practices that thwart federal immigration enforcement to the detriment of
the interests of the United States. This ends now. By Tuesday, August 19 , please submit a
response to this letter that confirms your commitment to complying with federal law and
identifies the immediate initiatives you are taking to eliminate laws, policies, and practices that
impede federal immigration enforcement. This letter does not constitute final agency action and
nothing in this letter creates any right or benefit enforceable at law against the United States,

 

Sincerely,

 

0. be

 

Pamela Bondi
Attorney General

 

ce: Nick Brown
Washington Attorney General
1125 Washington Street S.E.
Olympia, WA 98504