Republican leader slams Gov. Ferguson over National Guard remarks on immigration enforcement

The chairman of the Washington State Republican Party sharply criticized Governor Bob Ferguson on Monday, accusing the governor and Attorney General Nick Brown of escalating tensions around federal immigration enforcement after Ferguson said he is not ruling out deploying the National Guard.

Jim Walsh, a Republican legislative leader, said Ferguson and Brown are “encouraging lawlessness” and likened their approach to the 1991 film “Thelma and Louise,” in which the main characters drive off a cliff.

“Ferguson and Brown are the Thelma and Louise on this issue. They’re irrational and encouraging lawlessness. It’s surreal,” Walsh said. “They’re free to drive themselves off the cliff. We can’t let them take all Washingtonians with them.”

Fatal shooting leads to Ferguson’s National Guard discussion

Ferguson made the comments at a press conference with Brown following a deadly shooting during a federal immigration operation in Minnesota. The governor condemned the shooting and said he had met with the head of the Washington National Guard to discuss possible scenarios to protect Washington residents, though he declined to provide details.

“Ice is, to be blunt, completely and totally out of control. To say that I’m angry is not the right word. I don’t have the right word for how I feel about it,” said Ferguson. “As angry as we both are, we are focused on preparing to the fullest extent possible for a similar escalation by ICE against our will here in Washington state.”

Walsh said Washingtonians should be concerned about growing protests aimed at federal immigration enforcement, warning that demonstrations across the country, including in the Pacific Northwest, have at times turned violent.

Later Tuesday, the King County Council’s Law and Justice Committee is scheduled to consider a motion urging Congress to restrict funding for the Department of Homeland Security and impose additional guardrails on future appropriations.

“Washington can protect constitutional rights and demand accountability without encouraging lawlessness,” Walsh said. “If federal officials come to Washington, state leaders should be working to prevent violence — pushing for cooperation where possible, clear boundaries where needed, and a simple message to the public: protest peacefully, and don’t interfere with law enforcement operations.

“What’s happening around the country should worry every Washingtonian. Protests aimed at federal immigration enforcement are growing, and in some places, they’re boiling over into confrontation and violence,” he continued. “When leaders respond by inflaming emotions rather than calming the situation, they don’t protect the public — they increase the risk that someone will get hurt.”

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