Exclusive: A Washington state agency is sharing drivers' private data with ICE
The KING 5 Investigators find Washington's Department of Licensing has been sharing driver's license data with federal immigration agents, sparking privacy concerns.
A KING 5 investigation has uncovered that a state agency, the Department of Licensing (DOL), is providing Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and other Homeland Security departments with access to private driver's license and vehicle information.
State law prohibits local agencies from sharing personal data with the federal government for deportation purposes. Despite past controversies, the KING 5 Investigators have found that DOL quietly reopened accounts with ICE, Border Patrol, and other Homeland Security entities — leading to a dramatic surge in data searches since the election of President Donald Trump.
"There’s a lot of fear because they’re taking people that don’t have criminal records," said Jose, who lives in South King County and has been undocumented for nearly 20 years. He works in the restaurant industry and tries to advocate for his community.
Jose has witnessed the impact of ICE raids and questions whether Washington's sanctuary status is truly being upheld.
A History of Concern
This isn't the first time the DOL has come under scrutiny.
In 2018, protests erupted across western Washington after it was revealed the department was sharing personal data with federal agencies for deportation. Following public outcry and legislative pressure, DOL cancelled many of those agreements.
However, KING 5's investigation reveals that sometime later in 2018, some of these accounts were quietly reinstated.
DOL shares Washington drivers' data with ICE, KING 5 Investigators find
Since Trump's election in November last year, the feds' use of these accounts has skyrocketed by 188%. Looking solely at ICE's account, searches for driver and vehicle records jumped from approximately 540 in November 2024 to over 1,600 in May, a threefold increase.
Looking back at 2018, which is when DOL renewed the ICE account, data shows searches increase during the first Trump presidency, drop during Biden’s presidency and begin climbing back up in 2024.
"They should stop. They should stop because it’s all about trust," Jose said, highlighting the breakdown of trust within the community.
DOL defends data sharing
The Department of Licensing declined an on-camera interview but stated in emails they are following state and federal laws. They attributed the increase to "significant variability" in monthly searches and the shift across "two presidential administrations with two different immigration ideologies."
However, it is firmly established in state policy DOL's information is not to be used for immigration purposes.
DOL's renewed cooperation with federal agencies is concerning, said Jennie Pasquarella, the legal director of the Clemency Project, a nonprofit representing undocumented immigrants.
"As ICE is ramping up their enforcement actions in our state, the last thing we want is for them to be able to search a treasure trove of information about home addresses," she stated. "It is critical that we ensure that information is walled off so that people don't fear accessing it."
DOL claims anyone using their search engine must promise not to use the information for deportation. They state immigration enforcement can search their database for a person, license plate, address, or vehicle "only if they agree to use the information for purposes that are legal in Washington," such as investigating crimes like human trafficking or drug smuggling.
However, advocates worry the surge in searches is, in fact, being used for deportations, especially given that while being undocumented is a federal crime, it is not considered a crime under Washington state law.
This document below shows the information that Washington's Department of Licensing provides to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents:
'Against the Spirit of the Law'
State Senator Rebecca Saldaña, a sponsor of the 2018 "Keep Washington Working Act" which cemented into law that state agencies are not to cooperate with federal programs targeting residents based on immigration or citizenship, says DOL's actions go against the intent of the law.
"If it's criminal activity, then they should be able to do it through the warrant process," she said. When asked if the current practice is against the law, Senator Saldaña responded, "It’s against the spirit of the law."
Senator Saldaña said in the newly passed budget is a requirement for the Washington State Attorney General’s Office to review all data sharing of government agencies to see where these loopholes may exist.
For individuals like Jose, who recently obtained his green card but still feels vulnerable, the situation is deeply concerning.
"There’s always a concern where we’re not sure if we’re going to come back," he said. He calls on lawmakers to uphold Washington's sanctuary promise, adding, "They’re breaking families. They’re tearing families apart."