ICE in West Seattle again today; protest planned Sunday

Two notes regarding ongoing ICE operations in our area:

That photo is from one of multiple readers who messaged us about ICE officers detaining someone in Arbor Heights around 10 am. This was reported to be near 39th SW and SW 107th. One witness says, “They just took someone without asking any questions.” The officers were in vests marked POLICE/IMMIGRATION AND CUSTOMS ENFORCEMENT and were masked and in unmarked vehicles. No information so far on the person they are reported to have taken away. This happened not far from where another arrest was reported in June.

Meantime, a protest is planned in The Junction tomorrow over the recent West Seattle arrest (reported here) of local contractor Eduardo Aguirre Esparza. Organizers have sent this flyer for the event, 10 am-2 pm Sunday near the Farmers’ Market.

ITotallyAgreeWithYou August 1, 2026 (12:44 pm)

They seem to be targeting this same area of Arbor Heights over and over or following people to the area perhaps. Any insights on that? I cannot make this protest but will be there in spirit.

Colby August 1, 2026 (3:40 pm)

My assumption is because this neighborhood has a lot of yard crews, remodels, and house painting going on. Easy targets for ICE.
- WS98 August 1, 2026 (8:20 pm)
  
  There are a lot of yard crews, remodels, and house painting going on all over WS.Also, they’ve recently targeted Alki. I wonder if they’ll keep targeting WS because few people are challenging them.

No Mas Ice August 1, 2026 (12:51 pm)

Vote out every politician that supports ICE everywhere. 💯

KT August 1, 2026 (3:33 pm)

Yes. And also don’t vacation in states who’s reps support this madness. We were just 3 weeks in Canada and the Canadians are united in their resolve to spend their tourist dollars elsewhere than the US. We need to do the same with the states that are sending the white nationalists to DC.

Carole August 1, 2026 (1:34 pm)

There’s no other word for this. It’s wrong.This too shall pass and WE THE PEOPLE will have our work cut out for us when DJT departs. Lots of repairs and clean ups. And we will do it. More freedoms restored. Less ICE, too. VOTE BLUE!

WS98 August 1, 2026 (6:46 pm)

Fingers crossed fair elections will exist so we can get rid of the entire MAGA regime. Unfortunately, the current austerity is heavily supported throughout the GOP as well.
1994 August 1, 2026 (9:54 pm)

Trumpstein’s MAGA world will end January 20, 2029. How could it continue with so many absurd lies like Trumpstein’s insistence that 100% vandals had damaged the painted pool even after charges were dismissed?!? How crazy is that?

add August 1, 2026 (2:44 pm)

Please immediately report any ICE sightings to the WA Immigrant Support Network (WAISN) at 1-844-724-3737. Add this number to your phone!

Carole August 1, 2026 (6:16 pm)

Thank you this information.

Icy August 1, 2026 (3:01 pm)

Why don’t they deport those drug dealers at 13th Jackson,rapists, murderers and corrupted politicians than these hard working people who just want to work….

AAC August 1, 2026 (3:19 pm)

Support your immigrant neighbors! Join us at the West Seattle Adopt a Corner https://www.mobilize.us/ndlon/event/856331/

anonyme August 1, 2026 (3:23 pm)

I only see that the uniforms of these masked goons say “police”, nothing about ICE. This seems fraudulent to me; they are NOT police, nor are they following the laws of this country. Customs, as well as immigration and naturalization enforcement is and always has been a necessary part of government, so calls to abolish ICE are about as sensible as the defund police movement. What we need is a return to legal and humane enforcement, not this roving army of thugs under Trump.

WSB August 1, 2026 (3:35 pm)

We don’t publish photos at full resolution so you probably can’t zoom in, but I zoomed in on the original sent to us and in smaller lettering below POLICE the vests indeed say IMMIGRATION AND CUSTOMS ENFORCEMENT. Some of the past photos we’ve published just have the ICE acronym beneath POLICE.
K August 1, 2026 (3:52 pm)

ICE has existed for less than 25 years. There was border patrol and customs before that. You can abolish iCE and still do the necessary bureaucratic work of getting people and goods in and out of the country.

The first police departments did not exist until almost 60 years after the country was founded.

There is always an opportunity to reimagine the best way to provide safety and stability for the people.
Carole August 1, 2026 (6:15 pm)

ICE is a part of government that can be dismantled. ICE will not solve any of the problems this government does its best to try to find. It’s unpopular. It’s corrupt. It is damaging to our society and our humanity. Enough is enough. There are answers. ICE is not one of them.
DJT August 1, 2026 (6:30 pm)

We the people will never abolish ICE !!!
- WS98 August 1, 2026 (8:58 pm)
  
  You’re speaking for yourself, not for ‘The People’. Recent polling shows that a majority of Americans disapprove of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), and believe the agency has gone too far.

Lucy August 1, 2026 (4:00 pm)

I support LEGAL immigration.

Neighbor August 2, 2026 (8:16 am)

Then I look forward to seeing you at the protest this afternoon. What this regime is doing is illegal. These abductions aren’t about immigration. They are about brutality and hate.
CB August 2, 2026 (9:10 am)

I support not wasting taxpayer money on abducting people who are trying to make a living. I support keeping families together rather than cruelly separating parents from their children. I support the rule of law and due process rather than the thuggery of ICE. I support accountability rather than blind immunity when an ICE agent shoots someone in the face or in their back.
Gay August 2, 2026 (10:08 am)

How does one support legal immigration? I’d like to know, Lucy.

Laurie Reinhardt, Co Director WSI August 1, 2026 (5:31 pm)

In response to the recent surge in ICE activity, West Seattle Indivisible (WSI) has scheduled an urgent Constitutional Observer (CO)Training Monday, Aug 3rd, 630-8pm at St John the Baptist Episcopal Church, 3050 California Ave SW. Free! CO training provides the ordinary W Seattleite with options on how to respond when one may encounter an ICE detention. Participants will explore strategies on how to produce beneficial evidence to use in subsequent immigration proceedings, not the internet. Come join us! Register here: https://www.mobilize.us/westseattleindivisible/event/1000105/

C August 1, 2026 (11:02 pm)

Can this be recorded for those who can’t join?
- add August 2, 2026 (8:06 am)
  
  The same training is offered virtually every Tuesday evening through August on Zoom. More info here: https://www.mobilize.us/seattleindivisible/event/961955/

K E M August 1, 2026 (6:22 pm)

This is awful, and alarming to see these arrests happening repeatedly in Arbor Heights. ICE is truly unwelcome here. I’m heartened to hear there were several witnesses – and I’m heartbroken that our neighborhood is the site of the turmoil these apprehensions will unleash on these immigrants’ lives.Today I saw a (new?) “Kidnapped by ICE” cross at the Fauntleroy Ferry bus stop (west side of the street). West Seattle (and I hear Burien, too, but haven’t confirmed that) seems to be a focus area.

Neighbor August 1, 2026 (7:01 pm)

I can’t remember a time I felt more powerless than I do right now. Protesting. Voting. Calling my electeds. None of it is keeping people safe. May these ICE goons rot in hell to experience an eternity of terror like they are waging on families and communities.

AH August 1, 2026 (7:11 pm)

Did we pass a law in Washington (or king county or city) that they cannot wear masks?

K August 1, 2026 (7:52 pm)

Yes, but we also have laws saying they can’t grab people who are legally here and have done nothing wrong and deport them, but they’re doing that all the time. We have laws requiring due process they’re not following. We have laws requiring warrants they’re not following. There are international laws about ethnic cleansing, and treatment of prisoners once detained, that are also not being followed.

The law means nothing to ICE. That’s the problem. They’re a government-sanctioned gang.
Wsgal August 2, 2026 (9:13 am)

State law doesn’t trump federal.
- Carole August 2, 2026 (11:10 am)
  
  Rethink that. It happens quite often.
- WS Res August 2, 2026 (12:03 pm)
  
  It most certainly can. States can pass environmental laws that hold companies to a stricter standard and that regulate chemicals, emissions, etc. more tightly than the feds. States can pass laws that offer services (like universal health care) that the feds do not. And states can criminalize behaviors, like LEOs wearing masks and refusing to show ID, that feds have not.

alkiannie August 1, 2026 (8:02 pm)

Easy access to the donation link for Eduardo: https://www.supportnow.org/eduardo-aguirre-esparza. The guy has only had one traffic ticket in the past 25 years. That’s less than I have.

Neighbor August 1, 2026 (8:19 pm)

It’s not about immigration. It’s not about crime. It’s about race. It always has been.
Carole August 1, 2026 (8:32 pm)

Let’s do it. Thankyou, Annie.

Ruth August 1, 2026 (8:54 pm)

Let’s not forget they also seem to be empowered to shoot and kill civilians with no consequence.

Wsresident August 1, 2026 (9:21 pm)

This was so horrifying, happened right near my house. People were screaming, crying. They pulled the guy out of his truck from the middle of the streets not even the dignity to ask the man to pull over. He didn’t get to answer any questions. One of the ICE agents had to drive the guys truck to the side of the road. The ice losers were posturing, carrying pepper spray, and faces full masked. One of the people filming and protesting, placed herself in front of the ICE vehicle as that drove away and they continuously kept driving toward threatening to run her over. Such an upsetting scene. God forbid we took any federal resources and put them toward actually helping people, or actually fighting crime, say around the corner in Westwood, instead of taking hardworking people who have never harmed a soul. I pray for this man’s family.

Wsresident August 2, 2026 (9:14 am)
- JH August 3, 2026 (3:32 pm)
  
  Amen

Jack August 1, 2026 (10:03 pm)

I guess they only go after hard working people. They are so disgusting. They aren’t looking for homeless illegal immigrants, but hard working tax paying immigrants. Why don’t they start with drug dealers and then work their way up to hard working, tax paying people.