Ferguson defies Trump on immigration enforcement at No Kings rally

On Aug. 13, 2025, U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi sent letters to 12 states including Washington, designating them as 'sanctuary jurisdictions' and threatening criminal prosecution and federal funding losses unless they eliminate laws protecting immigrants from ICE cooperation.

Bondi's letter cited Executive Order 14287 signed by Trump on Apr. 28, 2025 ('Protecting American Communities from Criminal Aliens'), directing DOJ to identify sanctuary jurisdictions and impose immigration-related conditions on federal grants and contracts.

Bondi wrote: 'Individuals operating under the color of law, using their official position to obstruct federal immigration enforcement efforts...may be subject to criminal charges.' She set an Aug. 19 deadline for Washington response.

Washington's Keep Washington Working Act (2019) prohibits state and local law enforcement from cooperating with ICE except with judicial warrants. The law excludes Washington Department of Corrections (which notifies ICE of convicted felons being released) but bars local police and state troopers from assisting ICE raids.

Ferguson responded on Aug. 19: 'You refer to unidentified policies and practices within Washington State that violate federal law. If you really believe Washington state is in conflict with controlling federal law, you would make some effort to explain that. You did not, because you cannot.'

Ferguson stated: 'If you choose to challenge me and my state, be advised that we will defeat you and seek all appropriate costs and fees.' He vowed no compromise on Keep Washington Working Act.

Approximately 28% of Washington's state budget comes from federal funding. Ferguson acknowledged potential cuts would strain state budget but said Washington must 'uphold its values.'

Federal courts have rejected some Trump administration attempts to condition federal funding on immigration enforcement. In Apr. 2025, a federal judge in California issued a preliminary ruling blocking the administration from denying federal funds over immigration policies in a lawsuit brought by Seattle, King County, and other jurisdictions.

Washington Attorney General Nick Brown filed a lawsuit in Mar. 2025 against Adams County Sheriff's Office, alleging violations of Keep Washington Working Act by holding people based on immigration status and sharing information with ICE. The sheriff is being represented by America First Legal.

Ferguson told NPR he would tell his 17-year-old daughter: 'Our democracy is under attack' by an Attorney General threatening a governor with prosecution for upholding state law—contrasting with her childhood when he could challenge Trump 'and your dad does not get in trouble.'