Bellingham, Washington– A routine morning at Mt. Baker Roofing in Bellingham, Washington, was upended on April 2 when federal immigration officials conducted a large-scale enforcement operation, detaining 37 workers suspected of lacking legal work authorization.
Around 7:30 a.m., agents from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) arrived at the company’s warehouse on Thomas Road. According to longtime employee Tomas Fuerte, the agents arrived armed and quickly separated employees based on a list of names and photographs.
“They came in like we were criminals,” Fuerte told Cascadia Daily News. “They herded us into a room and took away the ones they had on their list.”
ICE spokesperson David Yost confirmed that officers were executing a federal search warrant as part of an “ongoing criminal investigation into the unlawful employment of aliens without legal work authorization.” According to Yost, the detained individuals allegedly used false documentation to obtain employment.
The 37 workers were transported to ICE facilities in Tacoma and Tukwila.
Mt. Baker Roofing responded with a statement expressing full cooperation with authorities while emphasizing its concern for the well-being of its employees and commitment to ethical business practices. “Our top priority remains the well-being of our team members and continued service to our customers,” the statement said.
Company CEO Mark Kuske acknowledged the long tenure and community involvement of many of the detained employees. “These were tax-paying workers helping build homes in our communities,” Kuske said. “Small businesses like ours are disproportionately harmed by enforcement actions like these, which also drive up consumer costs.”
The raid has deeply affected the local community. Outside the warehouse, family members and friends waited anxiously for information. Diocelina Nuñez, whose son was among those detained, said he had fled violence in Mexico and had lived in the U.S. for over a decade. “No one will tell me where he is,” she said, adding that her son’s wife is expecting a child.
Another witness, Laura Baldovinos, was present on behalf of a 19-year-old family friend currently seeking asylum. “I just want to make sure they’re treated respectfully and that we can recover their personal belongings,” she said.
The enforcement action follows recent concerns raised by workers about working conditions at Mt. Baker Roofing, including protests in 2023 regarding access to bathrooms and water on job sites—claims the company denied.
As families met with Kuske in the office after ICE left the scene around noon, community organizations weighed in. Edgar Franks, political director of Familias Unidas por la Justicia, and Liz Darrow of Community to Community both expressed alarm over what they see as increasing immigration enforcement targeting everyday workers.
“This situation highlights the fear many live with daily,” said Franks. “Even those trying to follow the rules are at risk.”
With ripple effects touching families, workers, and the broader roofing community, questions now turn to what local and state leaders may do next. “This is a political issue that needs leadership to resolve,” Franks added.
