Larsen Seeks Answers at Ferndale ICE Facility

Ferndale, WA, July 31, 2026
Today, Representative Rick Larsen (WA-02) released the following statement:

“The President’s cruel immigration agenda has angered many of my constituents and struck fear in families around the region. The Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency has been at the top of this agenda. I came to the Ferndale ICE holding facility today to get answers about this facility for my community.

“Where I was not able to get complete answers, I will be sending a follow-up oversight letter. I expect to get additional details about ICE’s recent policy changes for this kind of facility and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) operations locally.

“I was able to get answers to the following questions community members have about the facility’s operations:

“1. The facility has two holding cells that have room for eight people each. The average time a detained person stays in the facility is 4-5 hours. Since July 1, ICE has had a policy that no one can be detained in this type of facility for longer than 12 hours. People held by ICE here are first processed and then transferred to the privately-run detention center in Tacoma.

“2. People detained in the facility have access to a toilet and a sink. There are no kitchen or shower facilities, or medical personnel on staff, because of the short detainment periods. However, there is a process for non-emergent or emergent care.

“3. There are two private rooms with telephones where detained people can call an attorney if they have one.

“4. HSI has been responsible for the operations that detained nearly 50 people in Lynden in recent months. I intend to follow up with the Department of Homeland Security, HSI and ICE about HSI’s role in immigration enforcement and removal operations locally.

“As a service to my constituents, my office is going to work with this local ICE facility in Ferndale to establish a process where people who are detained here can get the necessary paperwork to request support from my staff.

“The President’s immigration enforcement agenda is hurting the local economy and making our communities less safe. My office stands ready to help family members locate their loved ones in ICE custody and access legal services – call 425-252-3188 or go to larsen.house.gov/helping-you/visas-and-immigration.htm.”

Larsen Fights to Hold ICE Accountable

In June 2025, Rep. Larsen toured the privately-run ICE detention facility in Tacoma and met with Lelo Juarez, a Skagit County union leader and activist whom ICE detained in March 2025.

Earlier this month, Rep. Larsen joined nearly 200 House Democrats in calling for independent investigations into Lorenzo Salgado Araujo and Johan Sebastian Guerrero’s deaths and demanding that ICE halt removal proceedings against the witnesses. He also demanded independent investigations into the killings of Alex Pretti and Renee Nicole Good in Minneapolis in January 2026.

In Congress, Rep. Larsen has refused to vote for legislation that would fund ICE without placing additional guardrails on the agency and requiring that ICE follow the same rules as every other local, state and federal law enforcement agency.

Rep. Larsen supports strengthening accountability and oversight of ICE operations and DHS detention facilities, including:  

  • Prohibiting ICE officers from wearing masks during arrests;  

  • Requiring ICE officers to be trained in de-escalation;  

  • Prohibiting masked ICE officers from using restricted equipment, such as tear gas;  

  • Ending family and child detention;  

  • Ending DHS’s use of private detention facilities;  

  • Providing individuals in immigration detention with unlimited communication with legal counsel;  

  • Repealing the Alien Enemies Act, which President Trump has used to deport immigrants from Venezuela with no due process by accusing them of “invading” the United States; and  

  • A complete and independent investigation into the killings of unarmed civilians.  

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