Full Breakdown
Washington Department of Licensing Data Sharing with ICE
1/9/2026, 10:09:34 PM
Overview of the Data Sharing Incident
A report from the University of Washington Center for Human Rights (UWCHR) has revealed that the Washington Department of Licensing (DOL) shared personal data of drivers with federal immigration enforcement agencies, specifically the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP). This data sharing facilitated at least nine confirmed immigration arrests in 2025, as federal agents accessed the DOL's database through a national data-sharing platform known as Nlets, administered by the Washington State Patrol (WSP).
Key Findings of the Report
The UWCHR report details that federal agents conducted license plate queries on Washington drivers, leading to immigration enforcement actions. Of the nine confirmed cases, the arrests were primarily attributed to queries made by CBP, despite state authorities claiming to have limited ICE's access to DOL data. The report indicates that from January 1 to November 30, 2025, there were 2,671,776 queries made by federal agencies using the ACCESS/Nlets system, which included various lawful purposes beyond immigration enforcement.
Timeline of Confirmed Arrests
The first documented arrest occurred on August 22, 2025, with subsequent arrests on September 20, October 4, and November 16 of the same year. In these incidents, ICE agents utilized vehicle registration queries to identify and apprehend individuals they believed to be undocumented. The last arrest involved a Washington resident in Gresham, Oregon, who was apprehended after leaving a grocery store.
Official Statements & Responses
In response to the report, WSP and DOL acknowledged that ICE's access to Nlets was officially terminated on November 19, 2025, following directives from the Governor’s Office. They stated that since the termination, thousands of ICE queries have been denied. However, the UWCHR report raises concerns about the ongoing potential for data access by federal agencies, emphasizing that the process may still be active despite claims of restricted access.
Community Concerns and Reactions
The report has sparked significant community concern regarding privacy and data protection. In light of these issues, several cities in western Washington, including Auburn, have taken steps to deactivate their FLOCK camera systems, which are used for surveillance. Auburn officials announced that any agency found using their FLOCK data for immigration enforcement would have its access permanently revoked.
Criticism & Opposition
Critics of the data-sharing practices argue that the collaboration between state agencies and federal immigration enforcement undermines community trust and raises ethical concerns about privacy. The UWCHR researchers highlighted the need for greater transparency and accountability in how personal data is accessed and used by law enforcement agencies.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
While the UWCHR report provides detailed accounts of the arrests and data-sharing practices, it does not clarify the extent to which other state or local agencies may still have access to similar data-sharing platforms. Additionally, there has been no response from ICE or the Department of Homeland Security regarding the allegations made in the report.
Verbatim Quotes
“While state authorities now claim to have curtailed access by one of ICE’s sub-agencies to DOL data via ACCESS, in eight of the nine confirmed cases discussed in this report, it was CBP, not ICE, who conducted the query. There is therefore no reason to believe that this process does not continue to date,” — University of Washington Center for Human Rights Report
“ICE access to Nlets was shut off on November 19,” — Joint Statement from WSP and DOL
“It's not Flock focused, but it's looking at the data sharing system Nlets and ongoing WA Dept of Licensing - ICE/CBP data sharing, allowing federal immigration enforcement to obtain WA driver data to assist them in immigration arrests,” — UWCHR Researcher
