Published 4 days ago • loading... • Updated 2 days ago

Attorneys for Firefighter Arrested at Washington Wildfire Call for His Release

Immigration officers arrested two people not legally in the U.S. and removed 42 firefighters from the wildfire scene, CBP said.
BLM investigators prompted identity checks by Port Angeles Border Patrol Station after a criminal probe into contract firefighting crews' employees.
David Diaz, crew boss with 26 years in firefighting, called the three-hour ordeal demoralizing and unprecedented, while one contracting company confirmed its firefighters held legal H-2B visas as another demobilized crew was sent home.
Wildland fire veterans warn raids could worsen staffing shortages as Democratic lawmakers, Washington Gov. Bob Ferguson, and Sen. Patty Murray denounce arrests, while Innovation Law Lab demands detained firefighter's release.
The operation occurred amid a policy reversal by President Donald Trump, and while U.S. Customs and Border Protection said it did not interfere with firefighting, wildland fire veterans called enforcement near front lines nearly unprecedented, highlighting tensions between immigration policy and national wildfire response.

Insights by Ground AI

Does this summary seem wrong?

16 Articles

Nevada Current

+11 Reposted by 11 other sources

Lean Left

Immigration raid at Washington blaze stokes fear in wildfire crews nationwide

A fire crew clears brush away from the side of Pacific Coast Highway in Santa Monica, Calif. Wildfire veterans say an immigration raid earlier this week targeting fire crews in Washington state was an alarming development that could threaten the nation’s wildfire readiness. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)Federal immigration officials in Washington state arrived on the scene of the largest wildfire in the state on Wednesday and arrested t…

3 days ago

Read Full Article