2 firefighters fighting wildfire detained by Border Patrol

Two firefighters, who were part of a team battling a large wildfire in Washington state, were apprehended by Border Patrol agents as part of an investigation into their contracting companies, federal authorities announced on Thursday. The Bureau of Land Management requested Border Patrol assistance in verifying the workers’ identities when the crew was working in a remote location, according to the Department of Homeland Security and the Border Patrol.

The Border Patrol discovered that two workers were in the country illegally and subsequently detained them. The investigation into the contracting companies, Table Rock Forestry Inc. and ASI Arden Solutions Inc., both based in Oregon, did not have details disclosed immediately, and federal officials did not respond to inquiries about the case.

The BLM terminated the contracts with the companies and escorted the 42 workers off federal land, while the two arrested individuals were taken to the Bellingham station on charges related to illegal entry and reentry.

Upon hearing initial reports about the arrests, U.S. Senator Patty Murray criticized the detentions, particularly in the context of the ongoing forest fires in the region. She stated that such actions by the Trump administration undermine the firefighting efforts and pose a threat to public safety in the face of wildfires that have destroyed entire communities.

Dennis Lawson, the president of the Washington State Council of Fire Fighters, emphasized the significance of firefighters working together as a team, underscoring that the loss of even a single member impacts their ability to effectively serve communities.

Border Patrol’s Chief Patrol Agent Rosario Vasquez defended the agency’s actions, highlighting the cooperation between federal entities in upholding the country’s laws and ensuring the integrity of government operations. The crews affected by the detentions were assisting with the Bear Gulch Fire in the Olympic National Forest and National Park, which had burned approximately 14 square miles by that point and was 13% contained.

Oregon Senator Ron Wyden expressed dismay over one of the arrested firefighters being from Oregon and criticized the arrests as detrimental to community safety. A legal team representing one of the detained individuals stated that they were unlawfully held and demanded that he be allowed to access legal counsel in accordance with his constitutional rights.

Washington Governor Bob Ferguson echoed concerns about the detentions, emphasizing the vital role of firefighters in safeguarding communities. While confirming awareness of Border Patrol activities at the fire site, a U.S. Forest Service spokesperson provided no detailed information on the incidents.

Amidst criticisms of the Trump administration’s immigration policies, state officials and firefighting agencies have sought further information from federal authorities regarding the circumstances surrounding the detentions. Despite assertions that Border Patrol operations did not disrupt firefighting activities, the arrests have raised questions about the intersection of immigration enforcement and emergency response efforts during natural disasters.