Ninth Circuit Sides With Feds In Dispute Over Local ICE Obstruction

The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals has ruled that local officials in Washington state cannot block federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations, reaffirming federal supremacy in immigration enforcement. The decision stems from a 2019 executive order by King County Executive Dow Constantine that barred ICE-chartered flights from using a county-owned airport.

Constantine’s directive prohibited fixed base operators (FBOs) at Boeing Field from providing essential services like fueling and landing stairs to ICE flights. The Trump administration challenged the order, arguing it violated the Constitution’s Supremacy Clause and an agreement granting federal use of the airport.

The three-judge panel unanimously sided with the federal government, ruling that Constantine’s order interfered with federal operations. The court also determined that the directive unlawfully discriminated against the government based on its status.

King County announced it would not appeal the decision, marking a victory for ICE and federal immigration enforcement. The ruling strengthens the federal government’s ability to carry out deportations despite resistance from local officials in sanctuary jurisdictions.

Incoming border czar Tom Homan praised the decision and issued a warning to local leaders who attempt to obstruct ICE operations. “It is a felony to knowingly harbor or conceal an illegal immigrant,” Homan stated, emphasizing that federal law takes precedence over local policies.

The Ninth Circuit’s ruling underscores the legal challenges sanctuary cities face as the Trump administration prepares to take a harder stance on immigration enforcement. The case highlights ongoing tensions between federal authority and local defiance over immigration policy.