Everett Woman Records Federal Agents Arresting Man
A north Everett resident captured footage of a Monday morning encounter involving masked federal immigration agents detaining a man near her property.
A local woman told reporters on Tuesday that officers attempted to apprehend two individuals she had hired from a landscaping company to work on her yard near Everett Community College and the Legion Memorial Golf Course.
The woman explained that the men had returned from a supply run when she noticed flashing emergency lights and heard shouting outside her residence.
The five-and-a-half minute recording shows five or six individuals wearing tactical vests emblazoned with large yellow lettering reading "Police," with smaller text identifying them as Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
In the footage, the men can be heard crying for assistance in both English and Spanish as the officers pull them from a work vehicle. At one point, one man appears to flee the area while agents wrestle another from the truck.
The individual being detained repeatedly states that no warrant is present and asks for help. He also complains of being unable to breathe while multiple agents lean over him.
The resident noted that the officers arrived in unmarked vehicles and did not display identification or badges. Several of the suspected agents were wearing face coverings during the incident.
In March, Governor Bob Ferguson signed legislation prohibiting law enforcement, including federal immigration agents, from concealing their identity through the use of masks while performing official duties in Washington state.
A spokesperson for ICE and Homeland Security Investigations in Seattle stated that the agency could not provide information without names or identifying details regarding those detained.
The resident said she asked multiple times for the agents to identify themselves.
"No response to that," she said, adding that she was instructed to stand back and stay out of the way several times, though no one became aggressive with her.
In the video, one agent is heard telling the resident, "Ma'am, it's not just our country that wants him," seemingly referencing the reason for the detention. The woman then asks the agents if they are proud of themselves, to which one responds, "Actually, on this one, very proud."
The federal agents placed the man in leg shackles and handcuffs before putting him into the rear of an unmarked vehicle, according to the footage.
After approximately 20 minutes, the woman said the agents departed, but not without allegedly leaving a message.
"Before they left, one of the officers was visibly making a point to take photos or videos of my property and my house, with my house number," she said. "Seemingly, in an effort to threaten or intimidate me, like, 'Hey, now we're watching you.'"
Following multiple follow-up requests, an ICE spokesperson declined to answer questions confirming the agency's presence in Everett or addressing concerns regarding intimidation, but did respond to inquiries concerning the suspected agents wearing masks.
Representatives from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) issued an emailed statement criticizing recent state legislative efforts to restrict federal agents from using face coverings. The spokesperson described the move as a dangerous attempt to compromise officer safety, arguing that the Supremacy Clause dictates that state sanctuary policies do not govern federal law enforcement. The agency emphasized that masks are utilized primarily to shield officers and their families from potential agitators and vowed not to comply with what it termed an unconstitutional prohibition.
The controversy centers on an incident reported to have occurred in Everett on Monday. State Rep. Julio Cortes, a Democrat from Everett and co-sponsor of the bill preventing law enforcement from concealing their identities during arrests, noted that he has received numerous reports regarding ICE activity in both the south and north sections of the city. Cortes stated that his knowledge of the operations is largely derived from social media and community inquiries rather than direct federal communication. He acknowledged that the situation has generated significant anxiety among residents, though he admitted the state lacks specific official details beyond the viral video footage.
According to the governor’s office, the legislation grants individuals detained by masked officers the right to pursue legal remedies, including compensation and attorney fees. Despite the law’s passage, Cortes anticipated enforcement challenges given the current tension between state and federal authorities. He suggested that ICE agents were already violating civil rights statutes, making it unsurprising that they might also overlook the new state requirement. The representative framed the bill as an initial step toward establishing greater accountability, aiming to inspire stronger future legislation. He questioned why federal agents should be exempt from the identity transparency standards already practiced by local police, arguing that clear identification helps prevent dangerous misunderstandings for both the public and the officers.
Local law enforcement clarified their limited involvement in the specific Everett incident. Both the Everett Police Department and the Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office stated that their personnel were not part of the arrest. Natalie Given, a spokesperson for the Everett Police Department, explained via email that while the department cannot interfere with immigration enforcement under state law, officers retain a duty to step in if they witness unlawful force being used. She also noted that 911 remains a resource for residents facing life-safety concerns.
A local resident, a Navy veteran and essential worker, reflected on the incident, which took place in her front yard. She described the event as triggering complex moral questions about the balance between serving the community and navigating the line between assistance and harm during a period of unprecedented social change.
A resident of the affected neighborhood expressed frustration that federal agents disrupted the daily routines of local families during the operation. She noted that while the separation of a man from his household and his subsequent detention was a primary concern, the broader disruption to the community highlighted how the impact of immigration enforcement extends beyond those currently held in federal custody. Describing the officers as an unidentified group, she emphasized that the incident also revealed a lack of supervision to ensure the safety of individuals present at the scene.
Local representative Cortes urged his district to familiarize themselves with their legal rights and available support systems in case they encounter federal personnel. He specifically pointed to organizations such as the Washington Immigrant Solidarity Network and the Northwest Immigrants Rights Project as resources for guidance during encounters that may involve legal ambiguities. Additionally, he advised residents to document these interactions through video recording to create a clearer record of the events.
Cortes stated that the community has a right to understand the circumstances surrounding these actions. He suggested that capturing footage is essential for determining whether the agents were acting under state or federal jurisdiction and for holding the officers accountable for their conduct.
Reflecting on the arrest that occurred near her residence, Gordon admitted that while the initial event was startling, she was not entirely surprised given the recent increase in immigration enforcement activities in the area. She encouraged other residents in Everett to consider whether they are prepared for a similar encounter.