Certain media representatives along with Democrats have incorrectly claimed that immigration and customs enforcement (ICE) agents arrested “firefighters” in Washington state, which is known for its sanctuary policies. In truth, the individuals in question are not firefighters but undocumented immigrants with criminal backgrounds.
Recently, some media outlets published a story asserting that two individuals, who were supposedly firefighters, were taken into custody by ICE agents while a fire raged in Beargarch, Washington.
One of those arrested, Jose Bertine Cruz Estrada from Mexico, had previous charges related to the distribution and sale of methamphetamine. He had multiple encounters with Border Patrol agents, totaling 15 over time.
Cruz Estrada had been deported by a federal immigration judge in April 2015 and subsequently by ICE agents on February 27, 2016. However, he managed to cross the southern border again afterward, although the specific date is unclear.
Another individual among those arrested had prior charges for illegally carrying concealed weapons. Officials from the Department of Homeland Security informed Breitbart News that these two were not actively engaged in battling the Bear Gulch fire, as they were not firefighters but rather associated with the company involved in fire control.
Despite the facts, Democrats have used this incident to propagate misleading narratives.
A headline from NBC stated, “Trump’s immigration crackdown will eliminate two firefighters combating wildfires in Washington.” Another report mentioned that “Two firefighters are detained at the Washington ICE Detention Center due to the wildfires.”
Democrats quickly embraced these unfounded claims.
“Donald Trump has launched a campaign targeting the worst of the worst,” remarked Washington Governor Bob Ferguson (D). He added uncertainty about the credibility of claims regarding firefighters engaged in combating severe fires in Washington.
Representative Emily Randall (D-WA) told Reuters she suspected that ICE agents might be withholding information about the arrests.
Similarly, Representative Andrea Salinas (D-OR) shared her awareness of one of the arrested individuals, referring to him as a firefighter while neglecting to mention his criminal history.
Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), also part of the Senate Energy Committee, echoed these misleading assertions on her social media account.
“The administration’s immigration policy is fundamentally flawed. Trump mistakenly detains lawful green card holders and even U.S. citizens,” she stated, adding that these individuals are essential for public safety.
“Detaining firefighters working to save lives will compromise American safety,” emphasized a Democrat from the Senate Energy Committee.
Tricia McLaughlin from DHS told Breitbart News that this episode is just another instance of media outlets skipping over key details.
“The two arrested individuals were not ‘firemen’ as claimed, nor were they addressing emergency situations. They were individuals with criminal backgrounds,” McLaughlin stated. “One faced charges for drug trafficking, and the other for illegal possession of firearms.”
“Once more, the media has propagated a misleading narrative, ignoring vital facts,” she added. “When will they cease disseminating misleading stories that vilify law enforcement?”
