Firefighter arrested at Washington state wildfire released by ICE

Rigoberto Hernandez Hernandez, a wildland firefighter, has been released from ICE detention after nearly four weeks following his arrest while fighting a wildfire in Washington state. His attorneys contended that the arrest was illegal and violated due process, leading them to file a habeas corpus petition. The government has since dismissed its removal proceedings, acknowledging that there was no justification for the enforcement action. Hernandez expressed relief at being home with his family and thanked the community for their support during his ordeal. The immigration raid at the Bear Gulch fire raised alarms among wildland firefighters, as it breached established protocols regarding immigration status checks during emergencies.

Legal representatives assert that such enforcement actions do not prioritize community safety and reflect a troubling trend in immigration enforcement. Hernandez has lived in the U. S. since he was four and has been a firefighter for three years, with a pending U-visa application since 2018. This incident highlights the ongoing tensions between immigration enforcement and public safety efforts in disaster zones.