U.S. Representatives Rick Larsen (WA-02), Adam Smith (WA-09), Pramila Jayapal (WA-07), Suzan DelBene (WA-01), Emily Randall (WA-06), and Marilyn Strickland (WA-10) wrote to Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, ICE Acting Director Todd Lyons, and IRS Acting Commissioner Michael Faulkender to express deep concern over the recent immigration enforcement raid in Kent, Washington and to demand immediate answers regarding the nature of the raid and individuals detained.

The letter is copied in full below.

Dear Secretary Noem, Acting Director Lyons, and Acting Commissioner Faulkender,

We write to express our deep concern over the recent immigration enforcement raid in Kent, Washington and demand immediate answers regarding the nature of the raid and individuals detained.

On May 20, officials from four federal agencies, including Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Criminal Investigation Division, arrested 17 people at Eagle Beverage and Accessories Products in Kent. Notably, this appears to be one of the first immigration raids involving IRS personnel.

The Trump administration has repeatedly sought to portray its immigration enforcement efforts as focused on deporting violent criminals. Yet federal authorities have not noted any sort of violent criminal connection serving as a motivating factor behind the raid. Raids like this which arbitrarily target hardworking community members only serve to tear families apart, stoke fear, and undermine trust in local law enforcement. These actions inevitably have ripple effects throughout our country, causing people to avoid going to work or school out of fear and crippling our local economies.

We request that you immediately provide answers to the following questions:

1. How many individuals were arrested as part of the May 20 raid in Kent? Please provide details on their gender, age, nationality, immigration status, and reason for their arrest.
2. Were there any collateral arrests?
3. Had any of the arrested individuals previously received a form of prosecutorial discretion?
4. Did any of the arrested individuals have a pending asylum claim?
5. Are the arrested individuals now in custody at Northwest ICE Processing Center (NWIPC)? If not, where are they currently being held?
6. Have the arrested individuals been given the opportunity to contact attorneys and family members?
7. Have the arrested individuals been scheduled for a court date?
8. Did ICE collaborate with state or local law enforcement agencies?
9. What role did IRS personnel play in the raid?
10. What training did IRS personnel receive to participate in the raid?
11. Did the IRS share the taxpayer data of any of the individuals arrested with DHS prior to the arrests?
12. How is the IRS’s participation in immigration raids impacting the agency’s ability to carry out its mission of investigating criminal violations of the Internal Revenue Code?

We thank you for your attention to this matter and look forward to receiving your response.

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