The Blaine Targeting Unit of U.S. Customs and Border Protection assisted U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's Enforcement and Removal Operations Seattle field office in an arrest in Whatcom County on April 13, 2026. The individual arrested is described as a Mexican citizen with a prior DUI arrest and multiple prior immigration removals, now awaiting removal proceedings.
The Blaine Sector of U.S. Border Patrol covers the northern Washington border from the Pacific Coast to the Okanogan Highlands, including all of Whatcom County's international boundary with Canada. The Blaine Targeting Unit is a specialized team focused on identifying individuals with criminal histories or prior immigration violations. CBP's Blaine Sector page provides information on sector operations.
ERO Seattle handles removal operations across Washington, Oregon, and Alaska. Someone with prior removal orders found in the U.S. can be subject to expedited removal proceedings, which move faster than cases for those without prior orders. Whatcom County's position along the northern border means federal immigration enforcement operations are more visible here than in most Washington counties.
For residents with questions about immigration enforcement in Whatcom County, the Whatcom County Sheriff's Office and city police departments are separate from federal enforcement agencies and operate under different policies. Community organizations providing immigration legal services include Northwest Immigrant Rights Project at nwirp.org. The individual arrested is currently in removal proceedings and the outcome has not yet been determined.
