(WASHINGTON) President Trump’s latest push against sanctuary cities is colliding with Washington state’s protections, as federal agents expand checkpoints and arrests across the region and the White House threatens to cut off money to non‑cooperating jurisdictions. On April 10, 2025, the president said he is “working on papers” to halt all federal funding to states and cities that maintain sanctuary policies, a direct shot at Seattle and other localities that limit help to federal immigration authorities. The moves have sparked new lawsuits, emergency planning, and rising fear.
Funding threats and legal standoff
Washington’s sanctuary‑state law, the Keep Washington Working Act, restricts police and state agencies from helping with federal immigration enforcement and bars sharing personal data with ICE or CBP without a court order. After the April threat, the state Attorney General said Washington will fight any attempt to strip funds or deputize local officers, pointing to state law and public safety.
Former King County Sheriff John Urquhart also said local deputies won’t be used for mass deportations.
Trump’s message was blunt: “Working on papers to withhold all Federal Funding for any City or State that allows these Death Traps to exist!!!” The remark revived a years‑long fight over money and local control. Washington previously sued during Trump’s first term, and on January 23, 2025, a federal court issued a temporary restraining order in Washington v. Trump that paused parts of the new enforcement drive. More lawsuits are expected if funding is cut.
Seattle and Olympia remain firm. State agencies continue to offer services to residents regardless of status, and by law cannot share personal details with federal agents unless there’s a judicial warrant or court order. City officials argue that cooperation limits would collapse trust with immigrant communities and make it harder to investigate crime.
Key legal and policy points:
– Washington’s law prohibits sharing personal data with ICE/CBP without a court order.
– A January 23, 2025 temporary restraining order paused parts of the enforcement push.
– More litigation is expected if the White House follows through on funding cuts.
Checkpoints expand as fear grows
CBP operates permanent and tactical immigration checkpoints within 100 miles of the border, including in Washington. At these stops, every driver can be questioned about immigration status, and agents increasingly use cameras and drug‑sniffing dogs.
Officials say these are brief inspections; longer detention or a search requires reasonable suspicion or probable cause. The Department of Defense has supported expanded patrols, and ICE has increased operations away from the border.
Community groups report rising fear of family separation. Parents are drawing up plans in case someone doesn’t come home from work. Farmworkers in the Yakima Valley say they’re avoiding medical appointments and even grocery trips near known checkpoint zones. In Seattle, legal clinics are crowded again, with mixed‑status families asking whether it’s safe to report a crime or testify as a witness.
What to expect at checkpoints (practical steps)
- Stop when signaled.
- Expect brief questions about your status.
- You may stay silent or ask for a lawyer; refusing to answer can lead to secondary inspection or short detention.
- Agents may look into the vehicle; deeper searches need probable cause.
- If held, ask if you are free to go and why you’re being detained.
- Fleeing a checkpoint is a felony.
Warning: Community groups emphasize that fleeing or aggressive reactions can increase legal risk. Instead, follow directions and seek legal assistance afterward.
Enforcement numbers and next steps
CBP reported 7,181 apprehensions at the southwest border in March 2025 — down 14% from February and 95% from March 2024. Nationwide, daily apprehensions averaged 264 in March 2025, compared with 4,488 a year earlier.
The White House frames the drop as proof that tougher measures are working, while lawyers warn that lower crossings do not erase legal limits on how far enforcement can go.
Washington is home to an estimated 250,000 to 300,000 undocumented residents, many tied to agriculture and long‑standing local industries. Since January 2025, the administration has pursued a mass‑deportation campaign, reshaping priorities through executive orders and policy memos.
- On January 20, 2025, Trump signed an order rescinding several Biden‑era protections, dismantling family‑reunification work, and setting stricter removal targets.
- A separate proclamation aims to bar undocumented entrants from asylum and adds new document rules at ports of entry.
Some actions drew instant challenges in federal court. In addition to the January restraining order, lawyers say more cases are likely if the administration tries to pull broad federal funding, a tactic that already failed in earlier rounds. Judges will also weigh whether the asylum limits conflict with U.S. treaty duties.
Travelers seeking official guidance about ports of entry and inspection procedures can review U.S. Customs and Border Protection resources at https://www.cbp.gov/.
Local impacts and contingency planning
According to analysis by VisaVerge.com, the funding fight matters beyond courtrooms: if large grants are frozen during litigation, local transit, housing, and public health programs could face delays, even if the courts later block the policy. That prospect is pushing cities to draft contingency budgets while they wait for rulings.
For Washington residents worried about daily life, state officials repeat a few points:
- State services remain open to all residents, regardless of status.
- State and local agencies cannot share personal data with ICE or CBP without a judicial warrant or court order.
- Calling 911 to report a crime does not trigger a status check by local police under state law.
Employers are watching too. Agricultural producers warn that sudden removals could interrupt harvest schedules and push costs up. City councils, including Seattle’s, say they’ll keep funding legal aid and “know your rights” workshops, even as federal pressure rises. School districts are reminding families that children can attend public school no matter their status.
Broader debate and what’s next
The broader national debate over sanctuary cities is set to intensify. Supporters of Trump’s approach argue that uniform cooperation is needed to remove people with final orders. Washington leaders counter that blanket cooperation from local police would scare witnesses and victims — particularly in domestic‑violence cases — and would drain local budgets.
Looking ahead:
- Courts will decide the reach of funding threats and removal rules.
- CBP and ICE are likely to sustain checkpoint operations.
- Local governments will continue contingency planning and defend state protections in court.
Families across Seattle and Washington remain on edge as these actions unfold, with legal battles and operational enforcement shaping daily life today.
This Article in a Nutshell
Washington resists President Trump’s April 10, 2025 funding threat as CBP checkpoints expand. State law bars sharing data without a court order, prompting lawsuits, emergency planning, and community fear. Farmworkers avoid appointments; legal clinics surge. Courts and local governments will decide funding reach while defending sanctuary protections and services.
