Governor Bob Ferguson took decisive action in response to the deportation efforts of the Trump administration. On January 27, 2025, in Seattle, he signed an executive order that aimed to address this pressing issue. This move demonstrated his commitment to protecting the rights and welfare of individuals affected by deportation policies. The photo captured during this significant event showcases Governor Ferguson’s strong leadership in defending the rights of all residents in Washington State.
Washington Governor Bob Ferguson took action on Monday by signing an executive order to establish a dedicated state team that will address the issue of separated migrant families. This comes amidst the Trump administration’s plans for large-scale deportations.
The state Department of Children, Youth and Families will establish the “Family Separation Rapid Response Team.” This team will consist of officials from various departments, including the governor’s office, the attorney general’s office, the Washington State Patrol, and the Office of Refugee and Immigrant Assistance.
According to Ferguson, the kind of deportation that Trump has outlined would result in the separation of families and the loss of parents for children. It would also lead to businesses losing their workers and communities undergoing significant changes.
“My administration will do everything we can possibly do to address those significant harms that are caused by those policies,” the Democratic governor said. “That’s making sure that kids who are torn away and separated from their parents have someone to care for them, and they have uninterrupted access to their education.”
The decision made by Ferguson was strongly criticized by the White House.
“Radical Leftists can either choose to swim against the tide and reject the overwhelming will of the people, or they can get on board and work with President Trump to advance his wildly popular agenda,” Harrison Fields, a deputy press secretary for Trump, said in an email.
The new state team will hold its inaugural meeting on or before February 14th, although Ferguson anticipates it will happen sooner. This team will be responsible for offering recommendations to the governor and is expected to submit a comprehensive report by April 30th.
Ferguson signed the order at the Centilia Cultural Center in Seattle, accompanied by a multitude of elected officials and advocates.
Tana Senn, the former state lawmaker who assumed leadership of the Department of Children, Youth and Families during the Ferguson administration, emphasized that the state will provide assistance to children whose parents are deported. It is important to note that many of these children are U.S. citizens, while their parents lack legal status.
“I just want families to know and to feel rest assured that if that happens, your child will be safe, will be cared for and will be loved here in Washington state,” Senn said.
During his campaign, Trump placed a strong emphasis on the idea of mass deportations. Now, just one week into his administration, he has already taken action to crack down on immigration.
President Trump took decisive action to reform the immigration system by signing multiple executive orders. Among these were the declaration of a national emergency at the southern border, the termination of birthright citizenship, and the elimination of policies that prevented immigration enforcement agents from apprehending migrants at churches, schools, and hospitals.
“It’s about making a terrifying calculus every day,” said Roxana Norouzi, the executive director of immigrant advocacy group OneAmerica. “Is going to work worth risk of detention? Is a church, hospital or school visit worth being separated from their children? The real threat to our country is a system that forces hardworking families to choose between survival and safety.”
On Sunday, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents conducted raids across the country and successfully apprehended a total of 956 individuals. This number is significantly higher compared to the daily average of 311 arrests that was recorded before President Trump assumed office.
According to the Yakima Herald-Republic, an immigrant rights group has reported that two individuals were detained by federal agents in a grocery store parking lot in Yakima County on Sunday.
The Keep Washington Working Act, which was enacted in 2019 with primarily Democratic support, aims to restrict local law enforcement agencies from assisting federal authorities in immigration enforcement. In addition, the act prohibits officers from inquiring about an individual’s immigration status, with a few exceptions.
The Department of Justice issued a warning last week, stating that local officials who refuse to cooperate could face prosecution. Additionally, President Trump has once again suggested the idea of withholding federal funds from states and cities that are not willing to assist with deportations.
Seattle successfully challenged the Trump administration in court in 2017 for its punitive actions against sanctuary cities that refused to cooperate with immigration authorities. The city emerged victorious in this legal battle.
According to State Rep. Jim Walsh, who serves as the chair of the state Republican Party, Ferguson’s order is nothing more than an empty gesture meant to showcase virtue.
“I think the people of Washington want the law to be enforced, including immigration law,” said Walsh, of Aberdeen. “No one wants to break up families, that’s not a real priority.”
Washington state has already taken legal action against President Trump’s effort to terminate birthright citizenship, which is protected by the 14th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. Recently, a federal judge in Seattle granted a temporary restraining order that prohibits the implementation of Trump’s executive order. The judge ruled that the order is clearly unconstitutional.
Ferguson expressed his pride in Washington being the first state to successfully challenge the Trump administration in court during the president’s recent term.
Ferguson Executive Order 25-04
A copy of the executive order signed by Washington Governor Bob Ferguson on January 27, 2025, aimed at assisting families impacted by President Donald Trump’s deportation initiatives.