Washington Gov. Bob Ferguson announced Tuesday that the state will not alter its “sanctuary” policies despite a deadline from the US Department of Justice (DOJ), choosing instead to publicly align himself with representatives from the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), a group long accused of ties to Hamas.

The press conference came after U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi’s DOJ warned Washington, Seattle, Oregon, and Portland to comply with federal immigration enforcement or risk losing federal funding. Bondi was blunt:

“Sanctuary policies impede law enforcement and put American citizens at risk by design,” she said, adding that officials obstructing federal immigration laws could face criminal charges.

Washington’s sanctuary laws have been linked to at least four deaths. On Tuesday, US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy announced that Harjinder Singh, an illegal immigrant truck driver accused of killing three people when he made an illegal u-turn was issued a regular full-term Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) by Washington state, as well as California, which he did not qualify for based on his immigration status.

Earlier this year, Raul Benitez-Santana, an illegal alien from Mexico, with a long rap sheet was found guilty of vehicular homicide and vehicular assault after driving intoxicated at over 100 MPH on the shoulder of a freeway plowing into the squad car of Washington State Trooper Christopher Gadd.

Despite the deaths, and crime caused in Washington by illegal aliens, Ferguson struck a defiant tone, saying: “The federal government’s relentless targeting of law-abiding immigrants is wrong. Protecting hardworking Washingtonians who are abiding by our state laws and keeping families together reflect our values as a state.”

Among those standing with Ferguson at the state Capitol was Imraan Siddiqi, executive director of CAIR’s Washington chapter. CAIR has been identified by the DOJ’s own Office of the Inspector General as an unindicted co-conspirator in the landmark Holy Land Foundation terrorism financing trial, the largest of its kind in US history. Prosecutors linked CAIR leaders to Hamas, a designated terrorist organization. Despite the allegations, CAIR was even singled out at Ferguson’s presser for its support of the immigrant community.

Siddiqi’s presence raised eyebrows, given his track record. In 2024, he ran unsuccessfully in Washington’s 8th Congressional District against Jewish Democrat Rep. Kim Schrier, accusing her of “failed moral leadership” after she voted to censure Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-MI) for antisemitic remarks. Siddiqi criticized fellow Democrats who condemned Hamas’ October 7th massacre in Israel, where terrorists murdered 1,200 civilians and kidnapped over 250, including Americans.

On X, Siddiqi dismissed condemnations of Hamas’ atrocities, telling politicians to “STFU.” Rather than denouncing the rape, torture, and slaughter of Israeli civilians, CAIR’s supporters encouraged pro-Hamas rallies, promoted student walkouts that featured genocidal chants, and sought to intimidate Jews and others who publicly opposed Hamas.

CAIR’s credibility has eroded further since October 7. In November 2023, its national executive director and co-founder, Nihad Awad, said he was “happy to see” the Hamas atrocities. The backlash prompted the Biden administration to remove CAIR from its White House antisemitism task force in 2024.

The Anti-Defamation League has said of the group, “Antisemitism is in the DNA of CAIR. It is part of CAIR’s intrinsic fiber. CAIR leaders often traffic in antisemitic and anti-Zionist rhetoric.”

Investigative journalist Steve Emerson has gone further, calling CAIR a “propaganda arm of Hamas.” Court documents, settlements, and The New York Post revealed CAIR’s links to Hamas and the Muslim Brotherhood, as well as its resistance to financial transparency.

Despite CAIR’s history, Ferguson has maintained ties to the organization. His campaigns have received support from CAIR donors, and he was honored at CAIR events after opposing the Trump administration’s travel ban. In 2022, Ferguson collaborated with CAIR on a “Domestic Terrorism Study.” Washington State currently allocates over $623,000 to CAIR despite its documented ties to Hamas.

Ferguson has also accepted endorsements from figures like Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-WA), a member of the progressive “Squad” who has drawn fire for antisemitic remarks. He refused to repudiate her support. He remained silent as pro-Hamas encampments at his alma mater, the University of Washington, targeted Jewish students with intimidation, vandalism, and rallies glorifying terrorists.

Ferguson also headlined a CAIR event alongside activist Linda Sarsour, who was previously removed from leadership of the Women’s March due to her antisemitic record. Sarsour also phone-banked for Siddiqi’s failed campaign.

Earlier this month, US Senator Tom Cotton (R-Ak) called on the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to launch an investigation into CAIR, citing what he described as the group’s “deep ties to terrorist organizations” and public support for acts of terrorism.