WASHINGTON, D.C. – America First Legal (AFL), supported by Cooper & Kirk PLLC and Ard Law Group, is taking action to defend Adams County, Washington, against the unlawful and abusive effort by Washington state officials to enforce illegal and dangerous sanctuary laws and policies and compel Adams County to violate federal immigration laws.

Last year, Washington state officials threatened to sue Adams County for refusing to comply with the harmful, dangerous, and illegal sanctuary jurisdiction law fraudulently titled the “Keep Washington Working Act.” Now, these officials are unlawfully attempting to force Adams County to sign a “consent decree” that will compel it to violate federal law for the next four years.

To protect American citizens and our Constitution, Adams County is standing up in opposition to this egregious abuse of state power. AFL is defending Adams County so that state officials and their anti-American open-border allies may not bully, coerce, or compel pro-American communities with dangerous sanctuary laws and policies that shield criminal illegal aliens and endanger law-abiding citizens. 

AFL has previously warned Washington Governor Jay Inslee and other Washington state officials that sanctuary policies are illegal, and that state officials who attempt to compel local jurisdictions to enforce them may face very direct consequences. On December 23, 2024, AFL sent letters to 250 state and local officials, notifying them of the legal consequences they could face for interfering with or impeding federal immigration enforcement and for concealing, harboring, or shielding illegal aliens.

AFL will continue to fight relentlessly alongside Adams County and other principled patriots to protect American sovereignty, uphold the rule of law, and terminate illegal and dangerous sanctuary laws and policies.

Read the letter here.

Read more about the case here.

Photo credit: Adobe Stock Images/Gorodenkoff