On Jan. 27, 2025, Governor Bob Ferguson signed Executive Order 25-04 to support children whose parents or caregivers are detained or deported. The Task Force will recommend policies and actions to help these children and their families.
The Task Force is made up of representatives from:
- Washington State Department of Children, Youth & Families (DCYF)
- Governor’s Office
- Washington State Patrol
- Office of Refugee & Immigrant Assistance
- Attorney General’s Office
- Other state partners
Resources
- Information and Resources Related to Recent Immigration Enforcement Action
- Family Separation Response Task Force Frequently Asked Questions (Spanish | Somali)
Meetings
Feb. 11, 2025
March 4, 2025
Frequently Asked Questions
The task force is working to create a clear process for what happens when a child is separated from their family due to detainment or deportation. To do this, they will work to:
- Understand the current process
- Identify available resources for families
- Make policy recommendations to improve support services
The task force held its first meeting on Feb. 11, 2025, and now meets every three weeks. They are currently gathering information on existing policies and procedures. A key goal is to create a list of resources to help families access legal aid, mental health services and other supports. Information will be posted on this webpage.
When 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 in protective custody with DCYF.
DCYF does not automatically get involved in cases of deportation. DCYF becomes involved if the parents can’t find an appropriate caregiver or there are clear signs of child abuse, neglect, or risk of serious harm.
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.
DCYF does not track child and family-level data regarding immigration status.