The study documents hundreds of confirmed instances where federal agents queried state licensing files immediately prior to apprehending residents on public roadways and in parking facilities.
Three Hundred Fifty-Six Confirmed Civil Immigration Arrests Researchers at the University of Washington documented 356 specific arrest incidents occurring between August 1, 2025, and October 13, 2026, where federal queries of state vehicle records directly preceded civil immigration detentions.
Through a dedicated gateway to Nlets, the International Justice and Public Safety Network, external law enforcement bodies query Washington vehicle registries from computer terminals across North America.
University researchers noted contradictions in this rationale, observing that the federal Center for Countering Human Trafficking is administered by Homeland Security Investigations, an entity the state had already blocked.
When immigrant residents recognize that registering an automobile or driving to work exposes their families to roadside apprehension, community members retreat from public institutions, avoid reporting crimes to local police, and forgo healthcare services.
An investigative report by the University of Washington Center for Human Rights reveals federal immigration authorities queried state licensing databases millions of times, leading to 356 confirmed civil arrests despite Keep Washington Working Act protections.