U.S. Rep. Smith rips ICE raid at Kent company

U.S. Rep. Adam Smith, D-Bellevue, whose 9th District includes Kent, criticized the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raid in Kent.

“The Trump administration is terrorizing our community through a series of ICE arrests both in Kent and Seattle,” Smith said in a May 21 post on X, formerly known as Twitter.

ICE arrested 17 people on Tuesday, May 20 at Eagle Beverage and Accessories Products, 19220 64th Ave. S., in Kent.

ICE also made arrests May 20 at a Seattle immigration court hearing, according to the Seattle Times.

“Under this presidency, families are being torn apart, living in fear, and facing ongoing threats,” Smith said. “These actions will have ripple effects throughout our state, causing people to skip their immigration check-ins and avoid going to work out of fear.”

Federal officers raided the Kent business based on an ongoing criminal investigation into the unlawful employment of people without legal work authorization in violation of federal law, according to a May 21 email from an ICE spokesperson.

Nine men and seven women, in handcuffs and ankle restraints, were escorted out of the business and onto an unmarked white bus, according to a video posted on Facebook by local immigration attorney Luis Cortes-Romero. A 17th person arrested could not be seen in the video.

“ICE Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) investigates worksite violations and/or the exploitation of workers,” according to an ICE spokesperson. “Worksite enforcement investigations focus on reducing illegal employment, holding employers accountable and protecting employment opportunities for the country’s lawful workforce.”

Smith said he’s keeping a close watch on ICE actions.

“I will keep fighting for the people in Washington to have the protections they deserve and for families to stay together,” Smith said.