University of Washington Center for Human Rights

And ICYMI, we’re seeking 1-2 student researchers for our Unfinished Sentences project this year. Join our team!

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Reflections from a former UWCHR student researcher. "It takes a lot of time to declassify records, so you end up passing on that work to the next cohort of student researchers, creating a lineage of human rights research." - Sarah Kwan, 2017 Unfinished Sentences student researcher. Read Sarah's full interview >> tinyurl.com/uwchr-sarahkwan. Unfinished Sentences is an initiative of the UWCHR which aims to document and share stories of survivors of crimes against humanity committed in the context of El Salvador’s armed conflict, and to support Salvadoran efforts for truth and accountability.

Last year we were lucky enough to sit down with former student researcher Sarah Kwan, graduating class of 2017, to reflect on her time at the Center for Human Rights and how she carries that work forward.

Read the full interview: tinyurl.com/UWCHR-sarahkwan

Worst of the worst? Most US immigrants targeted for deportation in 2025 had no criminal charges, documents reveal A Guardian analysis finds the vast majority of people who entered deportation proceedings for the first time from January to August last year had no criminal convictions

“What is being conducted is dragnet enforcement with the goal of ensnaring as many people as possible in the detention and deportation process, despite all the public claims of the administration that they’re going for the worst.” - Phil Neff, UWCHR research coordinator

Unfinished Sentences is an initiative of the UWCHR which aims to document and share stories of survivors of crimes against humanity committed in the context of El Salvador’s armed conflict, and to support Salvadoran efforts for truth and accountability.

Learn more: unfinishedsentences.org

UW students join our team! We're seeking an undergraduate research assistant for the Unfinished Sentences project. Commitment for 26/27 academic year preferred, extremely detail oriented, requires filing records requests, comprehension of written Spanish, $3,000/quarter stipend, apply now, open until filled. Unfinished Sentences is an initiative of the UWCHR which aims to document and share stories of survivors of crimes against humanity committed in the context of El Salvador’s armed conflict, and to support Salvadoran efforts for truth and accountability.

#UW students, join our team and get hands-on research experience!

We’re seeking 1-2 undergrad student researchers to join our Unfinished Sentences team, declassifying government documents related to historic human rights violations in El Salvador.

More info: jsis.washington.edu/humanrights/...

YVC forum examines state data sharing with immigration authorities GRANDVIEW — Immigration advocates, attorneys and researchers gathered at Yakima Valley College earlier this month to go over research that went into how immigration authorities access license plate in...

Looking for a quick review of our presentation earlier this month in Yakima, covering recent findings and trends in immigration enforcement in Washington state?

➡️ ALPR dangers
➡️ WA DOL data sharing with ICE/CBP
➡️ arrest trends

Read more here:
www.sunnysidesun.com/news/yvc-for...

Roadside Assist: Washington State’s Continued Sharing of Drivers’ Information with Federal Immigration Enforcement. Stylized collage shows a masked Customs and Border Protection agent looking at a white work van, a goldenrod beam coming from the agent’s eyes. The agent holds a phone that is connected by lines to a web of circles featuring logos and icons of institutions that share data, assisting the agent in immigration enforcement during a traffic stop. Agencies and data-sharing systems include the WA Department of Licensing, Washington State Patrol, Nlets, ACCESS, DHS, ICE, and more.

UWCHR research cited in today's Seattle Times article examines how WA Dept. of Licensing shares driver data with federal immigration enforcement agencies, assisting with roadside arrests similar to that of the Palestinian asylum-seeker featured.

Learn more: jsis.washington.edu/humanrights/...

‘I did everything right’: Palestinian asylum-seeker detained by ICE in WA A Palestinian asylum-seeker legally living in Auburn was stopped by ICE in December. He's since been released from custody, but fears of deportation remain.

"Mo’s arrest could also be another example of federal agents using WA state driver’s license data to carry out an arrest. His arrest document includes details consistent with other arrests in which federal immigration agents have done so."

www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news...

UW researchers: Federal immigration enforcement still accessing Washington driver data New cases suggest federal agents continue using a state law enforcement system to obtain license plate information tied to immigration arrests.

The WA Department of Licensing continues to share data on WA drivers with U.S. Customs and Border Protection, assisting in roadside immigration arrests.

“The state has had six years to solve that problem, and it’s too late now to say, ‘give us more time.’”

www.king5.com/article/news...

How ICE is using technology, databases to track people Federal immigration agents have an array of technologies they have purportedly used to track undocumented migrants, legal immigrants and, in some cases, citizens who oppose the government's intrusion ...

What tools are ICE and CBP using to track Washingtonians?

Today's Seattle Times reporting covers two of UWCHR's recent findings:

➡️ sharing of WA Flock automated license plate data in 2025
➡️ continued sharing of WA Dept of Licensing data via Nlets

Read more: www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news...

Washington’s Keep Washington Working law says state agencies should not use their funds or equipment for civil immigration enforcement. But that is exactly what is happening here. In late 2025 and early 2026, Washington state officials cut off ICE ERO and ICE HSI’s access to Nlets. However, access for CBP continues—as do their roadside immigration arrests in Washington state.

In late 2025 and early 2026, Washington state officials cut off ICE ERO and ICE HSI’s access to Nlets.

However, access for CBP continues—as do their roadside immigration arrests in Washington state.

Learn more: www.tinyurl.com/NletsWA

How does ICE/CBP know your car, your name, your address? NLETS­—a 50 year old data-sharing system that connects law enforcement databases nationally—allows ICE/CBP to access WA Department of Licensing information. Federal agents can go to a location and use Nlets to query the license plates of cars passing by to find their registered owners and other information. UWCHR has confirmed 19 cases from Aug-Dec 2025 where WA drivers were arrested by ICE/CBP while driving, following a search of their license plate number in the WA DOL’s database via Nlets. WA state could choose to cut off CBP access to Nlets.

Fed. agents can go to a location and use Nlets to query license plates of cars they see, accessing WA DOL data including name, address, physical description, and more.

UWCHR confirmed 19 cases from Aug-Dec 2025 where WA drivers were arrested by ICE/CBP following a search of their plates in Nlets.

Collecting and sharing data on Washington drivers can put immigrant and reproductive rights at risk. Flock, and other automated license plate readers, can be used to surveil individuals for conduct protected under sanctuary and shield laws. ICE/CBP decides which cars to track by figuring out who’s likely at the wheel. Who has that information? The Department of Licensing. How does ICE/CBP know who drives which car? NLETS­—a 50 year old data-sharing system that connects law enforcement databases nationally—allows ICE/CBP to access WA Department of Licensing information. Via Nlets, federal immigration enforcement agents can look up your plate number and find out your name, your address, and more.

Flock and other ALPRs can be used to track individuals for conduct protected under sanctuary and shield laws—laws meant to defend immigrant and reproductive rights.

But how do ICE/CBP agents know which cars to track?

Concerned about Flock? Wait until you hear about Nlets. Read the reports: 1) Leaving the Door Wide Open: Flock Surveillance Systems Expose WA Data to Immigration Enforcement. www.tinyurl.com/WAflock 2) Roadside Assist: Washington State's Continued Sharing of Drivers' Information with Federal Immigration Enforcement tinyurl.com/NletsWA

Through Nlets and the WA Department of Licensing, federal immigration enforcement agents can look up your vehicle's plate number and find out your name, your address, and more.

WA state could cut off ICE/CBP access to DOL data.

Since 2017, at the request of, and alongside community partners, UWCHR has worked to document human rights conditions at the detention facility.

Learn more about our ongoing series:
jsis.washington.edu/humanrights/...

New allegations against Tacoma ICE detention center staff emerge A 31-page complaint makes sweeping allegations, including falsifying reports, sham investigations denying medical care and hiring racist guards.

For years, people inside the NW ICE Processing Center have sounded the alarms about conditions and treatment at the facility.

A lawsuit filed last Wednesday in Pierce County Superior Court describes some of the abuses that people detained there endure.

www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news...

Prosser was one of two jurisdictions in WA state with Flock ALPR data searched by Texas law enforcement in 2025 in attempt to track down a person who had an abortion.

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Controversial Flock license plate readers shut off by another Eastern WA city The city’s cameras had been used by a Texas sheriff’s office to track a woman suspected of traveling for an abortion

Prosser becomes first Benton County city to stop using Flock ALPR surveillance systems, as controversy over access to the data grows.

UWCHR research cited: www.tri-cityherald.com/news/local/c...

Read our full report:
jsis.washington.edu/humanrights/...

And ICYMI:
bsky.app/profile/uwch...

How ICE Is Violating State Law and Why Seattle Center Needs a Glow Up - City Cast Seattle Today on the podcast, Jane and contributor Marcus Harrison Green are joined by UW Center for Human Rights Director Angelina Godoy to discuss their...

"They wouldn't have pulled him over if they didn't know his name and they found that out from the Department of Licensing data."

Looking for a good overview of WA Dept. of Licensing-ICE/CBP data sharing?

Tune into this episode of @citycastseattle.bsky.social:
seattle.citycast.fm/podcasts/how...

"It is never safe, it is never democratic, to empower any law enforcement agency to effectively become a secret police—and ICE has been doing that for a very long time."

UWCHR's Angelina Godoy joins @inthemeanwhile.bsky.social podcast, listen here:

Report cover: Roadside Assist: Washington State’s Continued Sharing of Drivers’ Information with Federal Immigration Enforcement. Stylized collage shows a masked Customs and Border Protection agent looking at a white work van, a goldenrod beam coming from the agent’s eyes. The agent holds a phone that is connected by lines to a web of circles featuring logos and icons of institutions that share data, assisting the agent in immigration enforcement during a traffic stop. Agencies and data-sharing systems include the WA Department of Licensing, Washington State Patrol, Nlets, ACCESS, DHS, ICE, and more.

Learn more about data sharing between Washington Department of Licensing and ICE/CBP: www.tinyurl.com/NletsWA

State officials cut off ICE ERO access to DOL data via Nlets in Nov 2025, and claimed in Jan 2026 to have cut off ICE HSI. However, CBP access remains. Only 2 of 16 cases confirmed by UWCHR involved queries by ICE, the rest were made by CBP. Blocking only ICE is not enough. New data, visualized in two bar graphs in the post, obtained from DOL reveal that in the last year CBP made the vast majority of queries of WA DOL data. The data confirm that ICE ERO queries stopped in mid November, but queries by ICE HSI and CBP continued through the end of 2025.

In Nov 2025, state officials cut off ICE ERO's access to DOL data via Nlets.

In Jan 2026, officials claimed to have cut off ICE HSI.

However, CBP access continues and WA data remains vulnerable.

The majority of DOL queries are made by CBP, as seen in DOL's data and arrests confirmed by UWCHR.

Immigration arrests on Washington’s roads are happening with the assistance of Washington state institutions, despite laws and policies prohibiting such practices. How it happens: 1) CBP/ICE surveillance: ICE and CBP agents surveil locations where they expect to find undocumented residents, or target vehicles they deem suspicious. 2) CBP/ICE searches license plate numbers in WA DOL data via Nlets: Agents run license plate numbers in Nlets, obtaining information from WA DOL via WA State Patrol’s ACCESS—including name, address, vehicle registration information, and more. 3) CBP/ICE makes an arrest: DOL data can be used to cross reference an individual’s immigration status. Agents can then proceed to arrest the driver while in traffic, or travel to their registered address to arrest them on a subsequent day.

This practice continues despite laws and policies prohibiting it.

Research update: ​​WA DOL continues its “roadside assists” to ICE/CBP immigration investigations. Since publishing the Jan 8, 2026 “Roadside Assist” report, UWCHR researchers have verified six additional cases where WA drivers were arrested by ICE/CBP while driving, following a search of their license plate number in the WA DOL’s database via Nlets.At least two of which are confirmed to have been civil immigration arrests.

Research update: WA DOL continues its "roadside assists" to ICE/CBP immigration investigations

UWCHR researchers have verified 6 additional cases where WA drivers were arrested by ICE/CBP following a search of WA DOL data, at least 2 of which are confirmed to have been civil immigration arrests.

Muchos de los arrestos de migrantes en las carreteras del estado de Washington se están llevando a cabo con la ayuda de dos instituciones estatales, a pesar de leyes y políticas que prohíben estas prácticas. Cómo sucede: 1. Vigilancia por parte de CBP/ICE Los agentes de ICE y CBP vigilan lugares frecuentados por comunidades de color y/o migrantes, e identifican vehículos que consideran sospechosos. 2. CBP/ICE consulta los números de placa en la base de datos del Departamento de Licencias de Washington (WA DOL) a través de Nlets. Los agentes consultan los números de placa en Nlets, obteniendo información del WA DOL a través del sistema ACCESS de la Patrulla Estatal de Washington, incluyendo nombre, dirección, información de registro del vehículo y más. 3. CBP/ICE realiza un arresto Los datos del DOL se pueden cruzar con otras fuentes para verificar el estado migratorio de una persona. Los agentes pueden proceder a arrestar al conductor de un solo, o luego dirigirse a su dirección de domicilio para arrestarlo posteriormente.

Muchos de los arrestos de migrantes en las carreteras del estado de Washington se están llevando a cabo con la ayuda de dos instituciones estatales, a pesar de leyes y políticas que prohíben estas prácticas.

Cómo sucede:

Hallazgos de la investigación: Las agencias federales de control de migración están accediendo a los datos del Departamento de Licencias de Washington (DOL) a través de un sistema de intercambio de datos llamado Nlets, administrado por ACCESS de la Patrulla Estatal de Washington. Entre agosto y diciembre de 2025, investigadores del UWCHR verificaron 9 casos en los que conductores de Washington fueron arrestados por ICE/CBP tras una búsqueda de su número de placa en la base de datos del DOL de Washington a través de Nlets. Se confirmó que al menos 7 de éstos eran casos civiles, no criminales. Si bien el DOL de Washington afirma haber restringido parcialmente el uso de ACCESS/Nlets, bloqueando el acceso a ICE ERO, ICE HSI y CBP aún pueden hacerlo.

Entre agosto y diciembre de 2025, investigadores verificaron 9 casos en los que conductores de WA fueron arrestados por ICE/CBP tras una búsqueda de su número de placa en la base de datos del DOL de WA a través de Nlets. Se confirmó que al menos 7 de éstos eran casos civiles, no criminales.

Asistencia en carretera: El estado de Washington sigue compartiendo datos de conductores con las autoridades federales de inmigración. Nueva investigación: Las autoridades federales de migración están accediendo a la base de datos del Departamento de Licencias de Washington a través de un sistema de intercambio de datos llamado Nlets, administrado localmente por la Patrulla Estatal de Washington.

Nueva investigación:
Las autoridades federales de migración están accediendo a la base de datos del Departamento de Licencias de WA a través de un sistema de intercambio de datos llamado Nlets, administrado localmente por la Patrulla Estatal de WA.

Lee el resumen ejecutivo: tinyurl.com/NletsWAesp

Our new report documents this practice in WA state—showing federal immigration agents using the data-sharing system Nlets, administered by Washington State Patrol, to access WA DOL data—assisting in immigration arrests despite laws and policies prohibiting such practices.

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