On Wednesday, when the so-called Bear Gulch fire in the American state of Washington had ravaged for almost two months, the immigration authorities suddenly struck.
While helicopters dropped water over the flames, federal officials arrived, lined up the firefighters and checked their ID documents. Thereafter, 44 of them were escorted from the site, writes The Washington Post. Two of them were later arrested, accused of having entered the USA illegally.
The raid has sparked criticism. To The Washington Post, several firefighters express concern that similar raids can distract firefighters working in dangerous and difficult environments – and also have serious consequences for a sector that to a large extent relies on migrant workers.
"Deeply concerned about the situation with two individuals who helped fight the fires in Washington", writes the state's democratic governor Bob Ferguson on X.
Democratic senator Patty Murray reacts by in a statement calling President Donald Trump's immigration policy "fundamentally sick".
The border protection agency CBP claims that the operation did not disrupt the firefighting, reports ABC News. The Bear Gulch fire has so far consumed over 9,000 hectares, mostly within the Olympic national park by the Pacific Ocean.
