Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office will not enforce federal immigration law, per state guidelines

Whatcom County Sheriff Donnell Tanksley has publicly affirmed that his office will not take action on immigration statuses following questions surrounding the sheriff’s office’s potential role in assisting federal law enforcement with the new presidential administration’s immigration policies.

In a January 23 letter to the public, Tanksley wrote, “a person’s immigration status is not a factor in our criminal investigations unless there is an explicit basis in state law, such as a violation of alien possession of firearms.”

The Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office (WCSO) follows the Keep Washington Working Act, passed by the state legislature in 2019, that states it is not local or state law enforcement’s primary purpose to enforce federal immigration law and that a person’s immigration status alone is not reason for action, according to Tanskley’s statement.

The sheriff’s statement came days after President Donald Trump was sworn into office, promising mass deportations of people living in the U.S. without legal status.

Tanksley wrote the WCSO will continue to support federal law enforcement’s criminal investigations when requested for criminal activity that impacts Whatcom County.

“The office’s first duty and mission is protecting lives and reducing crimes to ensure everyone enjoys a good quality of life,” Tanksley wrote. “We will proactively pursue that duty, protecting all persons without bias in the most professional and compassionate way possible.”