Multiple leaders from Oregon and Washington received letters from U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi on Aug. 14 after she criticized the sanctuary jurisdictions on X.
The letters demand that sanctuary cities and states follow federal immigration enforcement rules. They give the jurisdictions until Aug. 19 to respond and confirm their compliance.
“Any sanctuary jurisdiction that continues to put illegal aliens ahead of American citizens can either come to the table or see us in court,” Bondi said. Her social media post included a copy of the same letter sent to California Governor Gavin Newsom.
The letter states:
“You are hereby notified that your jurisdiction has been identified as one that engages in sanctuary policies and practices that thwart federal immigration enforcement to the detriment of the interests of the United States. This ends now. By Tuesday, August 19, 2025, please submit a response to this letter that confirms your commitment to complying with federal law and identifies the immediate initiatives you are taking to eliminate laws, policies, and practices that impede federal immigration enforcement.”
The U.S. Department of Justice included Portland, Oregon, and Washington on its list of sanctuary jurisdictions released Aug. 5.
The states and cities on this list have been criticized for having rules that stop local officials from cooperating with federal immigration enforcement.
Washington Governor Bob Ferguson responded in a statement:
“I will share a more detailed response to AG Bondi on Tuesday. That said, Washington state has no intention of changing our values in the face of threats from the Trump administration. The federal government’s relentless targeting of law-abiding immigrants is wrong. The Keep Washington Working Act is an important law that helps protect Washington families in the face of this assault. The Keep Washington Working Act requires our state and local law enforcement to focus on keeping Washingtonians safe, rather than allowing limited resources to be used for federal immigration enforcement. Protecting hardworking Washingtonians who are abiding by our state laws and keeping families together reflects our values as a state.”
Oregon Governor Tina Kotek also responded:
“I will fight for the safety and prosperity of every Oregonian, from recent immigrants to people who have been here for generations. Threats like this undermine our values and our right to govern ourselves. We will not be bullied into doing the federal government’s job of immigration enforcement.”
A spokesperson for the City of Portland and Mayor Keith Wilson declined to comment.
Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell spoke out against Bondi’s letter in an email to KOIN 6:
“Once again, the Trump Administration continues to target ‘sanctuary cities’ and perpetuate a narrative about our communities and laws that are furthest from the truth. Immigration enforcement is the exclusive responsibility of the federal government. The City neither interferes with nor carries out those federal duties.
“We have received and are reviewing the latest letter from Attorney General Bondi and strongly disagree with its assertions. Our laws and policies protect the safety, privacy, and constitutional rights of all Seattle residents while remaining compliant with applicable law.
“We remain committed to our local values, including being a welcoming city for all. We will continue to defend our residents and our rights — and we will not hesitate to do so in court.”
