🚗 ICE illegally accesses WA driving data

ICE Agent Murders Woman in Minneapolis

As you have no doubt heard, on Wednesday morning, an ICE officer, now identified as Jonathan David Ross, shot and killed a woman, Renee Nicole Good, who was in her car at a Minneapolis protest. City Cast Twin Cities producer Adam Sage was at the scene on Wednesday and reported seeing ICE agents “throwing multiple people to the ground,” spraying people’s faces with pepper spray, and then eventually teargassing the crowd. And yesterday, Minneapolis schools cancelled class after Border Patrol disrupted dismissal at Roosevelt High School.

• Local Response: Seattleites held a protest on Wednesday night at the Henry M. Jackson Federal building, and several hundred people showed up. Last night saw a vigil for Renee Nicole Good at Pier 58. [The Burner]
• Statements From WA Officials: State representative Pramila Jayapal called President Trump and DHS Secretary Kristi Noem’s statements about the shooting 'propaganda.’ Mayor Wilson released a video on Instagram stating, “I am furious at the federal government’s abuse of power.”
• ICE is in Seattle: The Seattle Times reported that three men were arrested by masked ICE agents at Evergreen Washelli Cemetery on Aurora on Wednesday morning. In addition, The Washington State Standard reported back in December that immigration arrests have surged in recent months in WA, with as many as 915 people being arrested between July 19 and Oct. 15 of 2025.
• Agents Are Illegally Accessing Driver Info: Recent immigration arrests in Washington state appear to be targeted, and it appears ICE agents are using a WA State Patrol system called ACCESS to obtain information about drivers and vehicles. UW researchers have tied at least 8 arrests to license plate searches in ACCESS. This means agents are still accessing state data, despite it being illegal under the Keep Washington Working Act. [KING5]
• ‘How Is This Helping Us?’ Today on the podcast, Jane speaks with regular contributors Guy Oron and Marcus Harrison Green about whether this may be a ‘George Floyd moment’ where ‘the reality distortion coming from the Trump administration’ starts to crack and people see that ICE’s actions aren’t helping the country.
• Know Your Rights: If approached by an immigration officer, you can stay silent, ask if you are free to leave, and please ask for a warrant. Do not open the door or allow them access into a private space. The Officer of the Attorney General has provided a lot of information on how to handle situations like this.

Ways To Keep Seattle Affordable 💰

We all know our city isn’t cheap, but what are some big-picture ideas for keeping Seattle more affordable to all who live here? Building housing (perhaps we can learn from Austin) and lowering the costs of running a small business are just the start. Also, there’s a lot of hope that our new mayor, an organizer and someone who has made affordability a huge part of her campaign, can bring the city together. [Seattle Times]

Struggle Over WA Climate Funds 💲

A fight is brewing over the $4.3 billion raised from Washington State polluters. Gov. Ferguson wants to use it for tax credits, while some state representatives see it as a way to shore up funding for schools or transportation. A UW political scientist says drawing from that fund for non-climate-related issues sets a bad precedent. [Seattle Times]

Openings and Closings 🈺

Wallingford’s Blue Star cafe will close its doors in February after 50 years, with owner Wendy Morales citing a drop in sales over the past few years and the end of her lease. On the more positive side, Uwajimaya is opening a new store in its hometown of Tacoma in 2027. The store opened originally in Tacoma in 1928, but was closed when the owners were interned at the Tule Lake incarceration camp during World War II. It’s nice to see Uwajimaya reopening in its hometown.

100-Year-Old Building Preserves Affordable Housing 🏠

The Devonshire, a 100-year-old building in Belltown, has survived all sorts of challenges, but its 62 units will remain affordable housing for another century through a unique non-profit ownership model and funding from the City Office of Housing, Heritage Bank, and federal tax credits. We love to see stories about preserving a city’s history and keeping it affordable. [Seattle Times]