Editor’s note: This story has been updated with new information from DHS and Border Patrol regarding the arrests. Since the article was first published, it has also generated a significant response from readers. We’ve added a selection of top comments at the end of the article. Jump to the comments and join the discussion.
UPDATE: 6:54 p.m. ET
MASON COUNTY, Wash. — Federal officials said two firefighters arrested during the Bear Gulch Fire operation were in the United States illegally.
According to U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the Bureau of Land Management and the U.S. Forest Service requested assistance from Border Patrol on Aug. 27 after contracts with Table Rock Forestry Inc. and ASI Arden Solutions Inc. were ended following a BLM criminal investigation.
Because of the remote location of the work site, BLM asked Border Patrol agents to verify the identities of the 44 personnel on scene to confirm they matched contractor rosters. CBP said agents identified discrepancies, including two individuals determined to be in the country illegally. One of those individuals had a prior removal order. Both were arrested and transported to the Bellingham Station on charges of illegal entry and reentry of removed aliens.
The remaining 42 individuals were released and escorted off federal lands.
Officials managing the Bear Gulch Fire said the Border Patrol operation is not interfering with firefighting efforts, noting progress continues on the nearly 9,000-acre blaze.
Orignial article:
By Isabella Breda and Conrad Swanson
The Seattle Times
MASON COUNTY, Wash. — Two people fighting the Bear Gulch fire on the Olympic Peninsula were arrested by federal law enforcement Wednesday, in a confrontation described by firefighters and depicted in photos and video.
Why the two firefighters were arrested is unclear. But a spokesperson for the Incident Management Team leading the firefighting response said the team was “aware of a Border Patrol operation on the fire,” that it was not interfering with the firefighting response and referred reporters to the Border Patrol station in Port Angeles.
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Over three hours, federal agents demanded identification from the members of two private contractor crews. The crews were among the 400 people including firefighters deployed to fight the wildfire, the largest active blaze in Washington state.
Border Patrol, Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the Department of Homeland Security did not respond to requests for comment Wednesday about the confrontation.
It is unusual for federal border agents to make arrests during the fighting of an active fire, especially in a remote area.
On Wednesday, the two contract fire crews were sent up to the northeast side of Lake Cushman to cut wood for the local community, according to two firefighters on one of the crews.
The firefighters requested anonymity because they feared retaliation from federal agencies for talking to the media.
While they were waiting for their division supervisor to arrive, federal law enforcement showed up around 9:30 a.m.
Federal law enforcement asked the crews to line up to check their IDs, according to the firefighters.
One of the firefighters said members of the crew were told not to take video of the incident.
“You risked your life out here to save the community,” the firefighter said. “This is how they treat us.”
In a FaceTime video call from the other firefighter to The Seattle Times, firefighters in their gear were seen sitting on logs in front of federal officers. Some firefighters were dismissed back to their vehicles.
One firefighter attempted to walk over to his company vehicle to get something to drink and appeared to have been called back by federal officers.
In images shared by firefighters from the scene, a U.S. Customs and Border Protection vehicle is parked nearby. Officers wearing “Police” vests are seen arresting a firefighter, while another appears to be restrained.
According to one of the firefighters, they were denied the chance to say goodbye to the detained crew members.
“I asked them if his (family) can say goodbye to him because they’re family, and they’re just ripping them away,” the firefighter told the Times. “And this is what he said: ‘You need to get the (expletive) out of here. I’m gonna make you leave.’
As of Wednesday morning, there were six 20-person hand crews on the Bear Gulch fire, and five of those are private contractors. As of Wednesday morning the fire covered nearly 9,000 acres and was 13% contained.
Federal policy under President Joe Biden’s administration stated that without “exigent circumstances” agents would not conduct their operations at natural disaster or emergency sites. Whether that policy remains in place, however, remains unclear.
Federal officials have pursued aggressive immigration enforcement actions under President Donald Trump’s administration.
Should ICE or Border Patrol Agents investigate fire crews during wildfires? Tell us why you think this should or should not happen during fire operations.
Police1 readers respond
- ICE was requested by BLM and Forest service due to termination of contractor services due to criminal investigation. So ICE, Border Patrol and Homeland had every right to be there conducting an investigation.
- Evidently they have a quota system. Sad they feel they have to go to these lengths to fill it. I feel the whole situation is overblown.
- I feel if they did not have a warrant for a particular person they should not be on a fishing hunt. It is not legal to make US citizens show their IDs to ICE or BP.
- The Border Patrol/Homeland Security did the right thing; the firefighting efforts were not interrupted. The updated information posted in this article put the event facts in a factual context. Best to ignore propaganda “reporting” until all of the facts are known.
- The contract was terminated, they were no longer fighting fire. Contracting follows a policy and when companies get contracts terminated, it is often due to the company failing to be able fulfill their end of the contract, they are no longer needed, or fraud waste and abuse.
- Though I agree that the law needs to be enforced, let’s think this through. So that you know where I am coming from, I was a full-time peace officer for 40 years, I have also been a firefighter, and am currently a volunteer with my local fire department. Just like going on a major call, firefighting takes one’s full attention. In this case, the crew not only lost two members, but they were probably going into a dangerous situation being concerned about their team members and from what the article says, pissed off at ICE for the insulting and unprofessional way that they handled it. This put fellow first responders at risk, and potentially members of the public. Even though these people may have been in the country illegally, and there are plenty of documented cases of ICE hauling off U.S. citizens, these two were preparing to protect people and property. ICE needs to rethink how they treat people and remember that constitutional protections are for all, and basic manners, decency and professionalism reflects on ALL law enforcement personnel.
- No. This should be done in exigent circumstances only, when there’s reason to think someone will be in immediate danger, not because the president wants to score points by deporting people who risk their lives for others.
- They should not interfere with firefighting operations. This is a safety issue. There are other methods to check IDs.
- Conducting immigration checks before teams go out to work on a fire line seems excessive. It’s almost as bad as deporting the firefighters from Mexico who came to assist during the last round of California wildfires. What happened to common sense in policing?
- I hope there’s more to this story than what’s here. I’ve gotta think there was some compelling reason to do this at the time and in the manner described. Absent that, who would approve such an operation? At least wait until the fire is out. Duh.
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