The report found federal agents have been using a national data-sharing platform called Nlets to search license plate numbers in the Washington Department of Licensing database through the Washington State Patrol’s ACCESS platform. (Adobe Stock)
Washington News Service: Driver’s license data from Washington State is still flowing to federal immigration agents, despite promises to cut off access, a new report revealed.
Researchers have confirmed in late 2025, federal agencies used the state system to query driver data in at least nine cases which led to arrests.
Angelina Godoy, professor and director of the Center for Human Rights at the University of Washington and the report’s principal author, said there are legitimate reasons why law enforcement agencies might need access to Department of Licensing data but enforcement of civil immigration policy is not one of them.
“Regardless of how one slices and dices the law, it’s very clearly in contradiction to the stated policies articulated by multiple state agencies and articulated very clearly in state law,” Godoy pointed out. “This is not what Washingtonians have been promised.”
Godoy explained it is not the first time. Federal immigration agencies accessed a licensing database last summer and in 2018, department employees routinely shared driver’s license information with them. The Department of Licensing and Washington State Patrol said they have already taken steps to protect the data, and deny breaking any laws.
Godoy noted in November state officials did block one specific branch of ICE from using the system. However, the report showed access for Customs and Border Protection was never interrupted. Godoy added many of the people arrested through this data sharing had no criminal record, and one was beaten by agents on the side of the road.
“This is a real harm being done to our families here in Washington,” Godoy argued. “There are a lot of people who are living in fear because of these practices and we all as Washingtonians deserve better.”
The report’s authors are calling on state officials to completely block all immigration agencies from accessing this data, to be fully transparent about what’s being shared and to create a process for accountability.