Tiffany Smiley: I stand with Attorney General Pam Bondi in her fight against sanctuary policies

Last week, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers in Seattle arrested multiple illegal immigrants convicted of heinous child exploitation crimes. Among them were a 53-year-old El Salvadoran man in Tacoma, convicted of first and second-degree child molestation and third-degree rape of a child, and a 58-year-old Mexican man in Yakima with similar vile crimes against children. These predators weren’t hiding in the shadows. They were walking our streets, thanks to Washington State’s reckless sanctuary policies.

Governor Bob Ferguson’s radical agenda didn’t just look the other way – it enabled them and has created a crisis that puts our families at risk.

In recent years, I have watched in horror as my home state of Washington, once a beacon of innovation and natural beauty, has become a safe haven for illegal immigrant murderers, rapists, and gang members who never should have been here in the first place. As we see real-life tragedies occur in our hometown communities, it’s no longer a political talking point; it’s a matter of safety for our families.

That’s why I was thrilled to see U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi fire off a no-nonsense letter to Ferguson, demanding an end to Washington State’s sanctuary policies that obstruct federal immigration enforcement.

AG Bondi was right to call out Washington state

Attorney General Bondi called out Washington State for what it is: a “sanctuary jurisdiction” under the Keep Washington Working Act, a 2019 law that severely limits local law enforcement’s ability to cooperate with ICE. Simply, this act forces law enforcement to do their jobs blindfolded, with their hands tied behind their backs. It prevents law enforcement from inquiring about people’s immigration status, from honoring many ICE detainers, or assisting in deportations. This law doesn’t protect families. It protects predators.

Attorney General Bondi took the necessary steps and brought the fight to Washington State, where real-life horror stories are happening right here in our own backyards. It’s a long-overdue wake-up call from the Trump administration, which is committed to making America safe again by deporting those who break our laws.

Ferguson responded with a smug, disappointing social media post about “values” and “law-abiding immigrants.” Give me a break. There is nothing right about defending child predators, rapists, and gang bangers. By disarming our sheriffs and police, Ferguson has made Washington a magnet for repeat offenders who know they’ll get a free pass to reoffend. Sheriffs across the state have publicly denounced these policies for shielding repeat offenders, arguing they put residents at risk by prioritizing alien criminals over law-abiding citizens.

Moms should unite against sanctuary policies

As a mom, these stories make my blood boil. But ICE is continuing the good fight – Operation Patriot is just one example that showed us how Democrats sanctuary laws have let rapists, kidnappers, and gang members walk free until ICE has to clean up the mess.

Because of President Trump and Attorney General Bondi’s leadership, ICE continues to make arrests in Washington State of child predators and human smugglers, and they’re not letting anyone get in their way. The Trump administration has made it clear: sanctuary jurisdictions undermine national security and will be held accountable. If Ferguson continues to play games and fight with the Trump Administration, he should be dragged into court and held accountable.

I stand with Attorney General Bondi as she fights this nonsense. Our state deserves better than Ferguson’s reckless sanctuary agenda.

Our children are at greater risk, our communities are less safe, and our resources are being drained because of Ferguson’s radical policies. Supporting Attorney General Bondi’s push isn’t partisan – it’s common sense. Let’s back our law enforcement, secure our borders, and reclaim the safety our communities deserve.

Tiffany Smiley is the founder of Endeavor PAC and the former Republican candidate for Washington senator.