1. United States
2. Wash.
3. Letter

I am writing to express my deep concern and outrage over the recent detention of Indigenous actor Elaine Miles by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents in Redmond, Washington. This incident, which occurred on November 3, is a stark reminder of the urgent need to remove ICE operations from our state. Elaine Miles, a member of the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation and a U.S. citizen born in Pendleton, Oregon, was wrongfully approached by four masked ICE agents while simply walking to a bus stop. Despite presenting her tribal ID, the agents allegedly dismissed it as fake. This unacceptable treatment of a Native American citizen highlights the dangerous overreach and cultural insensitivity of ICE operations in our communities. The detention of Ms. Miles, known for her roles in acclaimed productions like 'Northern Exposure,' 'Smoke Signals,' and recently 'The Last of Us,' raises serious questions about ICE's recognition of tribal sovereignty and identification documents. It also underscores the broader issue of how ICE's presence in Washington state erodes trust, instills fear, and violates the rights of our diverse population. I urge you to take immediate action to end ICE operations in Washington state. This incident demonstrates that ICE agents are not adequately trained to respect tribal sovereignty or to distinguish between citizens and non-citizens. Their presence in our communities does more harm than good, creating an atmosphere of intimidation that affects all residents, regardless of their immigration status. We must protect our Indigenous communities, uphold tribal sovereignty, and ensure that all residents of Washington can go about their daily lives without fear of unjust detention. By removing ICE from our state, we can take a significant step towards creating a more just and inclusive society for all Washingtonians. I request that you introduce or support legislation to prohibit ICE operations within Washington state borders and to require proper recognition of tribal identification documents by all law enforcement agencies. The safety and well-being of our communities depend on your swift action on this critical issue.