Two firefighters who were part of a crew trying to help put out a wildfire in Washington state’s Olympic Peninsula were taken into custody by US Border Patrol agents.
The arrests were made as part of an operation to verify the immigration status of contractor firefighters working on the Bear Gulch Fire.
According to the US Department of Homeland Security and the Border Patrol, agents found that two of the workers were in the US illegally and detained them during the operation. The two firefighters were arrested and taken into custody on charges of illegal entry and re-entry to the US.
The immigration raid was unusual in that such operations have customarily not been carried out around natural disasters or sites of emergency.
US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) said its officers were requested by forestry rangers to verify the names provided on contractor firefighter rosters.
“Several discrepancies were identified, and two individuals were found to be present in the United States illegally, one with a previous order of removal,” CBP said in a statement.
The US Bureau of Land Management terminated contracts with two contractor firms at the site and escorted their 42 firefighter staff off federal land. The incident has sparked controversy, with some lawmakers and advocates criticizing the timing and manner of the arrests.
Oregon Democratic Senator Ron Wyden posted on social media that one of the arrested firefighters was from his state and denounced the immigration arrest, saying it made communities less safe.
Washington’s Democratic Governor Bob Ferguson said he was seeking details about the immigration operation. “Deeply concerned about this situation with two individuals helping to fight fires in Washington state,” he wrote on social media.
One firefighter, who was not named, expressed frustration and disappointment at the treatment of the crew. “You risked your life out here to save the community,” the firefighter said.
“This is how they treat us.” The incident has highlighted the complex issues surrounding immigration enforcement and the treatment of migrant workers in the US.
The Bear Gulch Fire erupted in July, caused by human activity, and has burned over 3,600 hectares of land. Despite the efforts of firefighters, only 13% of the blaze has been contained, and it continues to spread through mature conifer woodland.
The firefighting efforts have been hampered by the immigration arrests, which have raised concerns about the safety and well-being of migrant workers in emergency response situations.