Today, Representative Rick Larsen (WA-02) wrote to Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) regarding Larsen’s visit to ICE’s Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) suboffice in Ferndale on October 9th:
“I support HSI’s mission to investigate and apprehend individuals involved in cross-border criminal activity, including human and drug trafficking,” said Rep. Larsen. “However, I am concerned by reports that HSI personnel, including those in Northwest Washington, have been reassigned to conduct civil immigration enforcement. HSI agents should be focused on investigating serious criminal activity, not diverted to support the President’s mass deportation agenda."
Rep. Larsen is conducting robust, close oversight of Trump’s immigration enforcement in Northwest Washington. In addition to ICE’s HSI facility, Rep. Larsen visited ICE’s Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) facility in Ferndale in July 2026 and the privately-run ICE detention facility in Tacoma in June 2025.
“This is not case-closed on oversight of ICE activity in our region,” said Rep. Larsen. “I will keep pushing to get answers and accountability for my community. 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.”
Rep. Larsen’s full letter to Secretary Mullin and Acting Director Venturella is available here and below.
October 27, 2026
Dear Secretary Mullin and Acting Director Venturella:
Thank you for the opportunity to visit the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Blaine field office in Ferndale, Washington on October 9, 2026.
I support HSI’s mission to investigate and apprehend individuals involved in cross-border criminal activity, including drug smuggling, human trafficking and child exploitation. However, I am concerned by reports that HSI personnel, including those in Northwest Washington, have been reassigned to conduct civil immigration enforcement alongside ICE’s Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO).
According to an August 20, 2026 report by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Office of Inspector General (OIG), HSI agents devoted 800 percent more hours to immigration enforcement in Fiscal Year (FY) 2025 than in FY 2024. During the same period, hours spent investigating fentanyl-related crimes fell by 31 percent, while fentanyl seizures by HSI agents declined by 39 percent.1 HSI agents should be focused on investigating serious criminal activity, not diverted to support ERO’s civil immigration enforcement operations as part of the President’s mass deportation agenda.
To better understand whether HSI’s operations in Northwest Washington have been affected by the diversion of HSI staff to civil immigration enforcement, please provide the following information no later than Friday, November 20, 2026:
1. Since January 20, 2025, how many HSI agents assigned to the Blaine field office have been reassigned, detailed or otherwise assigned to support ERO operations? For each reassignment, please provide the number of personnel involved, the date the reassignment began and the duration.
2. Since the start of FY 2023 on October 1, 2022, how many agent hours at HSI Blaine have been dedicated to supporting the ERO mission of civil immigration enforcement? Please provide this data by year for FY 2023 through FY 2026.
3. Since the start of FY 2023, how many agent hours at HSI Blaine have been dedicated to investigating fentanyl-related criminal activity? Please provide this data by year for FY 2023 through FY 2026.
4. Since the start of FY 2023, how many fentanyl seizures have agents at HSI Blaine carried out? Please provide this data by year for FY 2023 through FY 2026.
5. Since January 20, 2025, have HSI officers received any directives, orders or guidance to expand or limit their work with ERO? If so, please provide copies of any relevant directives, orders or guidance and their dates of issuance.
6. Has the HSI Blaine facility been used to detain individuals arrested by ERO? If so, please provide exact dates and details of these detentions.
Thank you for your prompt attention to this matter. I look forward to your response.
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