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Law enforcement, schools, churches, hospitals in Clark County emphasize that crackdowns are federal government’s purview – not theirs

Officials at most Clark County school districts have said they will not take part in immigration enforcement.

By Mia Ryder-Marks, Columbian staff reporter,
Becca Robbins, Columbian staff reporter,
Brianna Murschel, Columbian staff reporter, and
Chrissy Booker, Columbian staff reporter
Published: February 1, 2025, 6:14am
5 Photos
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Baltimore Field Officer director Matt Elliston listens during a briefing on Monday in Silver Spring, Md. As federal immigration enforcement efforts ramp up, local agencies are trying to reassure Clark County residents they are safe to attend school, church and seek help at hospitals and from law enforcement.
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Baltimore Field Officer director Matt Elliston listens during a briefing on Monday in Silver Spring, Md. As federal immigration enforcement efforts ramp up, local agencies are trying to reassure Clark County residents they are safe to attend school, church and seek help at hospitals and from law enforcement. (Alex Brandon/Associated Press) Photo Gallery

As federal crackdowns on unauthorized immigration ramp up under edicts from President Donald Trump, Clark County agencies — from police departments to schools to hospitals to places of worship — seek to assure local residents that they are not involved in immigration enforcement.

A Jan. 21 directive from the Department of Homeland Security opened the door for its immigration officers to detain people in previously protected places, including hospitals, medical clinics, churches and schools.

Also last week, the U.S. Department of Justice said it would seek to prosecute state and local law enforcement officials who interfere with the Trump administration’s crackdown on immigration, according to the Associated Press.

Many officials here are pushing back. Gov. Bob Ferguson said Trump’s policies will hurt Washington families. On Monday, he announced the creation of a rapid response team to address to the threat of mass deportations. An estimated 300,000 undocumented immigrants live in the state, according to the Office of Financial Management.

Local law enforcement

Immigration enforcement falls under the jurisdiction of federal agencies, and the federal government does not have direct authority over local law enforcement, according to a statement from the Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs.

“The focus of local law enforcement is on criminal violations that affect local community safety and quality of life,” the statement says.

Officials from the Vancouver Police Department and the Clark County Sheriff’s Office say their officers do not inquire about people’s immigration status during interactions or investigations, unless it pertains to the crime under investigation, such as a hate crime.

Vancouver police Chief Troy Price said people should not fear calling 911 because of their citizenship status.

“I can’t oversell the importance of folks not hesitating to call 911 if they’re looking to report or have been the victim of a crime,” Price said. “We’ve told people, ‘Please call. It doesn’t matter how you arrived in the Vancouver community, our mission is to keep members of the community safe, and that doesn’t come contingent on someone’s documented status in the United States.’ ”

Vancouver police policy bars officers from using stops for minor offenses as an excuse to ask about someone’s immigration status.

Sheriff John Horch said deputies focus on responding to calls and investigating crimes in the community.

“We do not ask immigration questions or their citizenship on traffic stops or when we go to calls,” Horch said. “That’s something we’ve never asked, and we don’t ask it if somebody is a victim. We go there, and we help them.”

Local officers are also prohibited from arresting or detaining people based solely on their immigration status, according to agency policies. State law also prevents local jails from holding people strictly because of their immigration status. The Clark County Jail will only hold someone if federal immigration agents present a warrant for the person, signed by a federal judge or magistrate, according to county spokeswoman Joni McAnally.

Employees at the Clark County Jail are prohibited from sharing information with immigration officials beyond what’s publicly available on the jail roster’s webpage. Immigration agents will also not be granted access to any secure areas of the jail facility solely for immigration enforcement. Employees will only grant federal agents access to those spaces if the agents are investigating criminal activity, McAnally said.

State law also prohibits judges, prosecutors or other court staff from sharing information with federal agents that isn’t considered public. It also prevents them from notifying immigration officials, strictly for the purpose of immigration enforcement, of a person attending a court proceeding.

Clark County prosecutors do not consider someone’s citizenship status when charging or resolving cases, Chief Criminal Deputy Prosecutor Anna Klein said in an email to The Columbian. She said she’s concerned that people, whether criminal defendants or victims of crimes, may not show up for court out of fear of being detained at the courthouse. She said any disruption to the pace of proceedings would be “detrimental to our cases.”

“This has always been a concern but is obviously heightened now due to the current situation,” Klein said in an email.

Schools

Officials at most Clark County school districts have said they will not take part in immigration enforcement.

“We have a constitutional right to education in the state of Washington. We will protect you. We will defend you. And we will get you access to education,” Washington Superintendent of Public Instruction’s Chris Reykdal said at a Jan. 16 media briefing.

Clark County school districts echoed that message.

Vancouver Public Schools Superintendent Jeff Snell sent a letter to employees and students’ families emphasizing that the district will not ask for nor keep information regarding a student or family’s immigration status and will not take part in helping immigration enforcement against students, families, staff or volunteers.

“At Vancouver Public Schools, we want every student and family to feel safe and like they belong,” Snell’s letter stated. “To make this happen, our schools must be free of hate, unfair treatment and discrimination.”

Only if immigration officers have a proper legal warrant will they be allowed into Vancouver schools, but the superintendent or district lawyer will review it first before access is granted, according to Snell’s letter.

Camas School District Superintendent John Anzalone sent a similar letter to families.

“In our schools, we know how important it is for every student, family, and staff member to feel safe, welcome and included,” Anzalone’s Jan. 22 letter stated. “We also understand that national conversations or policy changes, especially those that impact our students’ experiences, can raise real worries for many in our community.”

Evergreen Public Schools Interim Superintendent Christine Moloney sent a letter explaining that the district’s policies align with the state superintendent’s Jan. 23 guidance, which clarifies that public schools must not “deny admission or continuing enrollment to a student on the basis of immigration or citizenship status or treat a student differently to determine their immigration status.”

“Evergreen Public Schools is committed to making sure that all students feel safe, valued and supported,” Moloney’s letter stated.

Hockinson School District shared the state’s guidance with staff and “plans to share information with parents on an individual basis as needed,” spokeswoman Justine Hanrahan said in an email.

Battle Ground Public Schools summarized the district’s existing policies and procedures for the district’s administrators, spokeswoman Amanda Richter said in an email. Ridgefield School District also reminded staff about its policies and procedures, Ridgefield spokesman Joe Vajgrt said in an email.

La Center Superintendent Peter Rosenkranz struck a different tone in his response to The Columbian’s inquiry.

“We continue to prioritize compliance with all applicable laws and maintain full cooperation with law enforcement agencies,” he said in email, adding that his district decided not to send a letter home.

“(It) could cause unnecessary confusion and detract from our educational mission by politicizing the issue,” Rosenkranz said.

Hospitals

So far, Washington hospitals have not experienced immigration enforcement actions, according to the Washington State Hospital Association, which represents more than 100 hospital and health systems statewide.

A spokeswoman for PeaceHealth — one of Clark County’s largest health providers — said the hospital is legally required to comply with all state and federal laws but will not voluntarily release any information about a patient to immigration authorities unless required by court order.

“PeaceHealth has clear processes in place to ensure we respond appropriately if federal investigators visit any of our hospitals or clinics,” spokeswoman Debra Carnes said in an email Tuesday. “Health care is a fundamental human right. We are steadfast in our commitment to protect the safety and dignity of our patients and caregivers and provide care and healing to all who come through our doors.”

Legacy Health operates six hospitals, a full-service children’s hospital and over 70 medical clinics across Portland and Vancouver, including Salmon Creek Medical Center.

Legacy Health did not respond by The Columbian’s print deadline regarding its policies on immigration enforcement at its health facilities.

Churches

Federal agents are now able to arrest undocumented immigrants in churches, once considered to be safe havens.

In response, faith-based organizations in Clark County have been sharing strategies with each other. Some told The Columbian they have created “safe rooms” within their churches as a refuge in case of a raid, while others have distributed pamphlets in multiple languages to inform people of their rights.

At the same time, many church leaders continue to reassure their congregations that they are committed to providing protection and support.

“Churches have gone through this before and you don’t get to do this stuff in God’s building,” said Rev. Linda Marousek, a pastor at one of Vancouver’s Lutheran churches.

Some church officials told The Columbian they have attended workshops on what immigration officers can and can’t do. They said they want to make sure they are following the law but also protecting their members. Bishop Rick Jaech said the Lutheran church community has also begun corresponding with immigration lawyers.

“We are asking for the help of immigration lawyers who can explain — quite precisely — under the new executive orders, what everybody’s rights and responsibilities are so that people have good information,” Jaech said.

Some faith leaders said they have observed a decline in attendance of church services and fewer people visiting their food pantries.

“No matter what, this is a safe space, and anyone is welcome here. We do welcome immigrants — period,” said Rev. Steve King of Vancouver United Church of Christ.

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Lutheran Community Services Northwest, a nonprofit social service agency, issued a statement earlier this week that it remains committed to helping refugees, immigrants and asylum-seekers.

“We believe that every human being, regardless of their country of origin or legal status, is created in the image of God and has inherent dignity and worth,” states a letter signed by six Lutheran bishops. “This foundational truth compels us to approach the issue of immigration with compassion and a commitment to the common good.”

The letter also advocates for policies that protect immigrants’ rights, ensure fair treatment, and provide pathways to citizenship while emphasizing the importance of mercy and solidarity.

Jaech said the Lutheran church has welcomed all groups of newcomers for decades and that will continue.

“Except for those of us who are Indigenous, we are all immigrants, and we all counted on people to help us,” Jaech said. “So we do want there to be effective and just laws on immigration and a good process that really can manage arrivals. But we think it’s important to continue to reach out and help our neighbors — and our neighbors are from around the world.”

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This story was made possible by Community Funded Journalism, a project from The Columbian and the Local Media Foundation. Top donors include the Ed and Dollie Lynch Fund, Patricia, David and Jacob Nierenberg, Connie and Lee Kearney, Steve and Jan Oliva, The Cowlitz Tribal Foundation and the Mason E. Nolan Charitable Fund. The Columbian controls all content. For more information, visit columbian.com/cfj.

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