EXCLUSIVE: Washington Dems help illegal immigrants avoid deportation

On Sunday, the day before President Donald Trump was inaugurated, the official party Facebook page posted, “Protect our friends and neighbors from illegal searches and incarceration. If you see ICE activity taking place or any marked vehicles, please report it immediately to Washington Immigrant Solidarity Network…Know your rights. Do not open the door. ‘ICE warrants’ authorities may claim to have are not legal to enter your home. ICE warrants must be signed by a local judge to enter your home."

The party also suggested reaching out to radical organizations it affiliates with such as the Northwest Immigrant Rights Project for legal assistance. Other progressive-leaning organizations Democrats listed as partner organizations in the effort included: El Centro de la Raza, Refugee Women’s Alliance, Chinese Information & Service Center, East African Community Services, The International Rescue Committee in Seattle, Jewish Family Services, and the Archdiocese of Seattle.

Washington’s two Democratic Senators, Patty Murray and Maria Cantwell, both voted against the Laken Riley Act which would deport illegal immigrants who committed crimes in the US. Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-WA) called the legislation a "scare tactic." The bill passed the House and Senate despite their efforts and now heads to President Donald Trump’s desk.

Some businesses are working on similar efforts. Rachel's Bagels and Burritos in Seattle is trying to create an "industry network" to circumvent ICE raids.

Tuesday morning, Trump administration border czar Tom Homan announced deportation raids are already underway. He told Fox News, "ICE teams are out there as of today. We gave them the direction to prioritize public safety threats that we’re looking for. So we’ve been working up a target list." He added, "right out of the gate" the main targets are public safety threats, "those who are in the country illegally that’s been convicted, arrested for a serious crime."

"But let me be clear: it’s not only public safety threats that will be arrested. Because of sanctuary cities, we’re not allowed to get that public safety threat into jail, which means we gotta go to the neighborhood and find him, and when we find him, he may be with others. And unlike the last administration, we’re not gonna tell ICE officers not to arrest an illegal alien. So if they find others, they will be arrested. So sanctuary cities will get exactly what they don’t want: more agents in the neighborhood and more collateral arrests."