NEWS GLEAMS | Washington State Creates Rapid Response Team for Children Facing Family Separation; Former Madison Police Chief Is New Seattle Police Chief

Gov. Bob Ferguson has announced a rapid response team that is designed to address the potential issue of children who may be separated from their families due to family members being deported or detained as a result of the new federal changes in immigration law. The current administration of President Donald Trump has signed a sweeping number of executive orders designed to expand security at the southern border as well as carry out a number of mass deportations.

Over 2,300 people were arrested between this past Thursday and Sunday, as a result of the updated policies, and the federal government has recently updated U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) quota to at least 1,200 to 1,500 deportations a day.

In response, Ferguson has signed Executive Order 25-04, "Protecting Immigrant Families and Responding to Family Separation," which creates a Family Separation Rapid Response team under the Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF).

"My administration will do everything possible to address the harms caused by a mass deportation and detention program," Ferguson said, during the executive order signing event at El Centro de la Raza in Beacon Hill. "That includes making sure kids who are torn away from their parents have someone to care for them and uninterrupted access to their education, regardless of their immigration status."

The team — which consists of individuals from DCYF, Washington State Patrol, the Office of Refugee and Immigrant Assistance, the attorney general's office, and representatives from the governor's office — will develop policies that would support children experiencing family separation as a result of deportation or detention of their caregivers. The team will host its first meeting by Feb. 14 in order to begin reviewing agency policies for potential policy changes.

In consultation with immigration and child welfare experts, the team will focus on situations where a large number of children from the same geographic zone may be separated from their parents or caregivers in the same time period. They will also meet with the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) and local school districts to figure out ways to minimize education disruption for affected children. The strategy will also strengthen lines of communication among various government agencies and school districts in order to facilitate quick, responsive actions if a child's caregivers are taken while a child is at school.

Interim Police Chief Sue Rahr has announced that she will be leaving her post this Wednesday, Jan. 29, so that newly appointed Seattle Police Chief Shon Barnes can take his post on Thursday. Barnes was recently the police chief in Madison, Wisconsin, and his actions made headlines following a December shooting at the Abundant Life Christian School that killed three people. In that role, Barnes had called for community policing that was driven by data and empirical evidence.

After a nationwide search, Mayor Bruce Harrell announced his top choice last month. Barnes' role must still be confirmed by the Seattle City Council, who have previously said that he may serve as an interim police chief to start.

According to The Seattle Times, Barnes began his policing career in 2000, first as a patrolman in Greensboro, North Carolina. He eventually moved to Salisbury, North Carolina, where he served as assistant chief prior to being hired in 2001 as the police chief of the Madison Police Department.

Barnes was a history teacher in North Carolina and changed careers after speaking to school resource officers about a possible career in law enforcement. He is a former Marine reservist with a bachelor's degree in history and pre-law from Elizabeth City State University in North Carolina, a master's degree in criminal justice from the University of Cincinnati, and a doctorate in leadership studies from North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University.

Rahr — who replaced former Police Chief Adrian Diaz due to allegations of his misconduct — has stated that she will remain involved with the department through mid-February in order to assist with the transition.

A welcome reception for Barnes will take place on Friday, Jan. 31, at Seattle City Hall.

Over the past weekend, the Renton Police Department (RPD) reported break-ins of over 60 vehicles across the city, in which at least four guns were stolen. As a result of surveillance footage, RPD currently has identified three suspects, who they consider to be armed and dangerous. Despite some broken windows, RPD is unsure what tools were used for the break-ins. RPD is advising that residents do not keep their guns in their vehicles.

Locations that were targeted include:

• 700 block of Logan Avenue.

• 1700 block of East Valley Road.

• 1800 East Valley Road.

• 1200 block of Lake Washington Boulevard North

• 1300 block of Lake Washington Boulevard North

• 1800 block of Maple Valley Highway

• 400 block of South 50th Street.

Those who suspect they have been impacted should call RPD at 253-852-2121 or 911.

A free family event is in store to encourage families of color to get outdoors and engage with the natural environment. There will be food, interactive activities, and workshops. Alison Mariella Désir, host of PBS's Out & Back with Alison Mariella Désir, will speak. Désir's local program features her outdoor journeys across our region and amplifies voices of diverse communities who are working in outdoor, wilderness, and environmental areas.

Participating organizations include Seward Park Audubon Center, Girls On the Run, Montañistas de Washington, Bras for Girls, Black Farmers Collective, and many others.

Explore the Outdoors Family Fair
Feb. 1, 2025
11 a.m.–4 p.m.
Washington Hall, 153 14th Ave. Seattle, WA 98122
FREE w/ RSVP

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