ICE‑Out Protests Expand to Bellevue and Tacoma as DHS Shutdown Persists
Updated (3 articles)
Western Washington streets fill with demonstrators demanding ICE’s end On Saturday, Feb. 22, 2026, dozens gathered at a Bellevue intersection and a larger crowd assembled in Tacoma, chanting and holding signs calling for an end to ICE operations and broader immigrant protections [1]. Organizers emphasized First Amendment rights, with protester Shay Shay noting free speech as their sole tool [1]. The rallies occurred despite rainy weather, underscoring participants’ resolve [1].
DHS funding lapse leaves many employees unpaid while ICE remains active The partial shutdown has forced TSA officers and Coast Guard personnel to work without pay, yet ICE enforcement and deportations continue under authority funded by prior appropriations [1]. This discrepancy highlights the uneven impact of the shutdown across federal agencies [1]. Officials have not indicated a pause in ICE activities despite the broader funding gap [1].
Organizers warn of rapid detainee transfers and health crises Rally organizer Sally S warned that ICE operates widely across the Seattle area, accelerating deportations and moving detainees to other states [1]. Stan Shikuma of Tsuru for Solidarity highlighted delays in legal aid, while Rufina Reyes, executive director of La Resistencia, raised concerns about sick detainees and lack of transparency regarding their condition [1]. These statements point to mounting pressure on detention facilities amid the shutdown.
Deportation flights continue from Tacoma’s Boeing Field Nonprofit tracking indicates that removal flights from the Tacoma detention facility persist, primarily using the nearby Boeing Field airport [1]. The continued operations suggest that ICE’s logistical capabilities remain intact despite budgetary constraints [1]. Advocates argue that these flights exacerbate worries about detainee welfare and due process [1].
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Timeline
Dec 2025 – The Trump administration launches ICE’s “Operation Metro Surge,” deploying thousands of federal officers to target “criminal aliens” and framing the effort as a public‑safety campaign, a move that later fuels large‑scale protests in Minnesota and Washington. [1]
Jan 2026 – A shooting in Minneapolis kills a U.S. citizen, igniting nationwide outrage and prompting anti‑ICE demonstrations across Washington state. [3]
Jan 13, 2026 – Washington’s attorney general notes a 105 % surge in daily detainees at the Tacoma ICE facility over the past year and begins evaluating a lawsuit modeled on Minnesota’s case; Seattle police confirm ICE arrests on Aurora Avenue, and Mayor Katie Wilson calls the arrests “unacceptable, like kidnapping people going about their lives.” [3]
Jan 23, 2026 – Thousands march through downtown Minneapolis in sub‑zero weather, converging at the Timberwolves arena; hundreds of businesses voluntarily close, with Kim Bartmann reporting a 30 % sales drop and Harriet Grove Botanicals shutting down over moral and economic concerns; about 100 clergy are arrested at the Minneapolis‑St. Paul airport for exceeding permitted protest activity; ICE detains several minors, including four Columbia Heights students and a two‑year‑old child. [1]
Feb 22, 2026 – Demonstrators gather in Bellevue and Tacoma despite rain and a partial DHS shutdown that leaves many agency workers unpaid; protester Shay Shay declares “free speech is our only tool,” organizer Sally S warns that ICE “operates widely across the Seattle area,” and La Resistencia’s Rufina Reyes cautions that detainees are sick and information is scarce; deportation flights continue from Tacoma’s Boeing Field. [2]
2026 (future) – Washington’s AG office says it will keep monitoring ICE activity and “may pursue legal action” later in the year, while the Keep Washington Working Act remains in force to bar state and local law enforcement from assisting ICE. [3]
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External resources (1 links)
- https://www.seattle.gov/iandraffairs (cited 1 times)