New findings from University of Washington researchers indicate that federal immigration agents continued accessing Washington’s driver and vehicle data through late 2025, despite state-level efforts to restrict such use. According to a recent report summarized by KGW’s coverage, federal officers relied on a national law enforcement network known as Nlets, routed through the Washington State Patrol’s ACCESS system, to obtain driver information tied to immigration enforcement actions.

Documentation from the University of Washington Center for Human Rights (UWCHR) shows nine verified cases between August and November 2025 in which Washington residents were arrested following vehicle-registration or license‑plate queries transmitted through ACCESS/Nlets. As detailed in reporting by the Spokesman‑Review, these queries can return home addresses, personal identifiers, and driver photographs. Another case, involving a Kirkland school theater manager, revealed six separate Nlets queries in the days leading up to his arrest.

In a parallel assessment, VisaVerge’s review of UWCHR’s findings noted that Washington State Patrol and the Department of Licensing stated federal access for one Immigration and Customs Enforcement division was cut off on November 19, 2025. However, UWCHR’s report identified confirmed queries occurring as late as November 16, underscoring the difficulty of verifying whether federal access had in fact ceased. According to the same records, federal agencies queried Washington Department of Licensing data more than 2.6 million times between January and November 2025, a figure that reflects both routine law enforcement activity and potential immigration-related use.

The Center for Human Rights’ broader reporting, including its January 2026 publication “Roadside Assist”, indicates most confirmed cases involved civil immigration enforcement. Researchers emphasize that these cases likely represent only a fraction of the total instances in which driver data may have been used to facilitate federal immigration actions.

Although no incidents identified in the published research occurred in Cowlitz County, the statewide systems involved—particularly ACCESS and Nlets—are used universally across local law enforcement agencies. That means drivers in Longview, Kelso, and surrounding communities rely on the same data‑sharing infrastructure whose oversight and controls are now being scrutinized. Washington’s Keep Washington Working Act prohibits the use of state resources for civil immigration enforcement, making compliance relevant for every agency connected to statewide law enforcement networks.

Institutional responses have been mixed. Some state agencies report restricting federal access, while multiple audits and public records—reviewed by UW researchers and covered by outlets including the Spokesman‑Review and VisaVerge—suggest that data continued flowing through federal systems even after restrictions were announced. These discrepancies highlight unresolved gaps in transparency and oversight that carry implications for residents across the state.

Why this matters

While the confirmed cases to date center on other regions, the systems at issue connect directly to the databases used by law enforcement in Cowlitz County. Because ACCESS/Nlets queries provide detailed driver information capable of supporting immigration enforcement activities, any weaknesses in oversight affect all Washington drivers, regardless of county. As state authorities evaluate next steps, the experience of other jurisdictions underscores that data‑sharing practices can shift without widespread public awareness.

Sources

KGW: UW researchers: Federal immigration enforcement still accessing Washington driver data

The Spokesman‑Review: Immigration agents still access WA licensing data, UW report shows

VisaVerge: ICE Searched Washington Driver Data Through November

UW Center for Human Rights: Roadside Assist report