On Sep. 29, 2025, Gov. Ferguson announced Executive Order 25-09, creating an Immigration Sub-Cabinet, to be led by the WA Office of Equity, the Governor’s Office, and the Office of Financial Management. The new sub-cabinet will build on the efforts of the Family Separation Rapid Response Team, which will continue to function through the end of the year.
The Family Separation Rapid Response Team is working to improve policies and practices statewide to protect children whose parents or guardians are detained or deported due to immigration status. The Team was created by Executive Order 25-04 which was signed by Governor Bob Ferguson on Jan. 27, 2025.
The goals of the Team are to:
- Recommend improvements to statewide policies and practices
- Develop and share resources with families at risk of separation
- Collaborate with trusted community-based organizations
The Team does not share information with federal immigration enforcement. It also does not respond directly to individual instances of family separation.
If you need to report immigration activity, please call the Washington Immigrant Solidarity Network (WAISN) Deportation Defense Hotline at 1-844-724-3737 or visit www.waisn.org.
Helpful Resources
This information is not a substitute for legal advice.
Resources for Families
(available in multiple languages)
(available in multiple languages)
Immigrant Safety Plan
Parents are encouraged to create a safety plan which identifies who would take care of their child(ren) if they are detained or deported.
Sample Immigrant Safety Plan - Legal Counsel for Youth & Children
Resources & Supports
The following organizations are available to assist families impacted by immigration-related detention and/or deportation:
- Rapid Response Hub: Washington State Commission on Hispanic Affairs
- Washington Immigration Solidarity Network Resource Finder
- Department of Social and Health Services, Office of Refugee and Immigrant Assistance Resource Tool
Assets & Business
This guide has general information on guardianship including managing bank accounts, credit cards, bills, powers of attorney, property, leases, unpaid wages, and taxes.
Deportation Preparation Manual for Immigrant Families - Appleseed Network
School Guidance
The Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) sets rules for all public schools in Washington. You can enroll your children in any public school, regardless of their immigration status. Below is OSPI’s guide for families and schools that outlines your family’s rights to education.
Immigrant Students’ Rights to Attend Public Schools
Know Your Rights
Understand your rights when stopped by federal immigration officials and how to support others when you come across immigration enforcement activity.
Legal Supports
Effective June 6, 2025 the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) issued a policy alert announcing the immediate termination of deferred action consideration and work authorization for Special Immigrant Juvenile (SIJ) youth. Read more.
For more information about legal services, including how to give someone legal custody of your child(ren), please seek legal counsel. To find a licensed attorney or federally authorized professional who specializes in immigration law, contact the organizations below:
- American Association of Immigration Lawyers
- Latino Bar Association of Washington
- Washington State Bar Association
- Immigration Advocates Network National Immigration Legal Services Directory
- Washington Immigrant Solidarity Network
Keep Washington Working Act
Under the Keep Washington Working Act, Washington State public services, like housing and education, are available to all residents regardless of their citizenship status.
Keep Washington Working Summary - WAISN
Real ID WA
Anyone traveling by airplane must now use a REAL ID-compliant document. Non-permanent residents are most likely to have the Enhanced Identification Card (EID).
ID Options for Washingtonians
Deportation Preparation
Below are resources for families impacted by deportation.
Deportation Preparation Manual for Immigrant Families - Appleseed Foundation
Help with a Federal Agency
Find assistance if you are having problems with Social Security, Medicare, veterans or military affairs, immigration, passports, or other issues involving the federal government.
Help with a Federal Agency - Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal
Resources for Partners/Providers
- Information and Resources for DCYF Providers
- Group Care Providers - Guidance for Requests from Immigration Enforcement Officials
- Caregivers - Guidance for Requests from Immigration Enforcement Officials
- WAISN Resource Finder
- Protections for Immigrant Students in Washington’s K–12 Public Schools
- Keep Washington Working Act Guidance for state and local partners
- Report potential violations of the Keep Washington Working Act by emailing the Washington Attorney General’s Office at civilrights@atg.wa.gov or by calling 1-833-660-4877 (options are in Spanish and English).
Frequently Asked Questions
It is recommended that parents identify a caregiver for their child(ren) if they are detained or deported. The Legal Counsel for Youth and Children (LCYC) has several resources available, including the Immigrant Safety Plan (available in multiple languages). Parents may also wish to review other legal resources or speak to a private attorney for what should happen in the event they are deported. The Legal Counsel for Youth and Children (LCYC) provides several resources in their Immigrant Safety Plan and offers training to help parents plan for the care of their children in the event that they are detained or deported.
You may take care of a child left in your care by a parent without becoming a licensed foster parent. To prepare for this, you may review the Immigrant Safety Plan and Training, the Nomination of Standby and Minor Guardianship Form, and other resources on the Know Your Rights OAG page or LCYC website. We also recommend the following resources:
The Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) has put out guidance related to the protections offered for immigrant students in Washington state. As we move forward on the Task Force, we continue to partner with school districts and support the education of all youth regardless of immigration status.
When U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detains a parent, they first check with the family to determine if there is a relative or friend who can care for the child. ICE only contacts DCYF if:
- The parents cannot find a safe person to care for the child.
- There are concerns about the person who is chosen to care for the child.
In these cases, ICE will notify local law enforcement, and the child will be placed into Protective custody and then transferred to DCYF. If a child is not with their parent when deported and is in the care of community or other childcare, we rely on community partners to notify law enforcement or DCYF.
It is DCYF’s goal to keep children with their families. As DCYF is working to help reunify the child with their parent, DCYF will work to locate family members/relatives. If one cannot be located, the child would enter into foster care while the caseworker is attempting to reunify the family.
For more information, view the Immigrant Family Separation Flow Chart.
DCYF does not currently handle cases of unaccompanied children.
If a child is picked up by the U.S. Customs and Border Protection, they are transferred to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. From there:
- The child is placed with the Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR).
- The ORR finds a sponsor to care for the child.
- The child is connected to services and the immigration court process.
Yes. When DCYF receives placement and care authority of a child, DCYF works to reunify a child with a safe parent – even if they are outside of the country.
In keeping with Keep Washington Working (RCW 43.17.425), DCYF does not provide information to ICE without a court order or judicial warrant, or a signed release of information.
Updated on Oct. 14, 2025