The Feds are using DOL license plate info to target our neighbors for detention. Ferguson can stop this!

In 2025, our Governor rightfully recognized that Washington should not be assisting ICE in detaining Washingtonians. This is why Ferguson’s administration took steps to stop ICE from using Washington DOL information for civil immigration enforcement, including cutting off ICE-ERO’s access to driver and vehicle data through Nlets.

Unfortunately, this hasn’t put a stop to federal immigration agents accessing the information. The University of Washington Center for Human Rights reported that federal immigration agents were still accessing DOL information through Nlets and Washington State Patrol’s ACCESS system.

This has allowed federal immigration agents to run license plates through Washington DOL records and ‘fish’ for potential targets. At least 298 immigration arrests were made after federal agents searched Washington DOL records using license plate numbers through Nlets (UWCHR).

Intentionally or not, Washington is still complicit in aiding ICE. Immigrant rights groups and community members are demanding that Ferguson close DOL access to driver and license plate data for civil immigration enforcement.

Please read the full letter to the Governor at thisl.org

Consider taking 2 minutes to call Ferguson and demand that he close access to Washingtonian’s DOL information.