r/Firefighting • u/AngronOfTheTwelfth • 1d ago

General Discussion Border Patrol agents arrested firefighters fighting Washington wildfire after they asked the fire crew to line up to check their IDs.

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What do we all think of this? Seems pretty nuts to me. They are actively getting in the way of wildlands guys as they do their job out there. I dont think this should be allowed or encouraged. Firefighting is a lot more important than .... risking 20 guys dressed exactly like firefighters crossing the Canadian border?

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u/alliance501 1d ago

Is this really the best use of resources? Like even if one of them was here illegally, what harm are they doing to this country? Messed up priorities

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u/[deleted] 1d ago edited 1d ago

[deleted]

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u/TLunchFTW FF/EMT 1d ago

I mean, even a fellow brother, you break the law you break the law.
BUT, while I’m not beyond believing the workplace is scared, if they’re working on a fire ground, there’s a bit of “hey, a bit more important shit is happening. Let’s handle that later.” Like, imagine if they pulled a guy off an attack line at a house fire and deported him there. And that’s before getting into the legality of a random ID check.
And this from someone who wants to see illegal immigration dealt with. But this is not solving any problem and is creating more.

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u/rilie 1d ago

I don’t think you are getting his point. The prezzi said they are going after only the worst of the worst, violent criminals. So how does checking IDs of working firefighters align with that mandate? These guys are off doing vigilante shit, or what your prezzi is saying is all bullshit and they are in fact going after anyone and everyone despite their criminal records.

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u/ValuesHere 1d ago

Even if they're all here illegally, no f'in way should this happen. NEVER. Not in this country and never would I have thought it would. Fire incidents, in churches, children, there's a funny pattern here, but familiar if you read history.

The officers were threatened with firing if they didn't go take this action. I would have handed the boss my papers plus a middle finger right there on the spot if asked to take this disgraceful action against FFs or any fellow responder - I don't care where they're from or they're citizen status, they're risking their lives to save.

Christ. Removing active and needed resources from a fire for something no more than the equivalent of a misdemeanor.

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u/MaintenanceFrosty542 1d ago

Remember, there's no limit to the evils an American will do for $100k a year plus bonuses.

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u/wehrmann_tx 1d ago

What’s the legal standing here anyway? A cop can’t stop you for any reason. You don’t have to present ID unless they have a specific and articulable crime you’ve committed. Suspicion of not being a citizen isn’t one of them and it sure as hell doesn’t pass the specific part if they are stopping a group of people hoping to trap one. It’s already been held that you can’t be force to show ID for the specific purpose of checking citizenship.

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u/[deleted] 1d ago

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u/moist-conditions 1d ago

Racist policy usually looks completely illogical because it stems from someone that lacks the ability to think.

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u/TLunchFTW FF/EMT 1d ago

I do want to say border security and enforcing immigration law isn’t about race. Some may agree with it from a racist point of view, and I hate those as you do. They make people like me look bad. But there’s security implications as well as stability implications. Not to mention the fact that you can’t just say “well from this point on.” I agree with tough on illegal immigration, regardless of race, but have some human decency. A fire scene is not the place.

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u/moist-conditions 1d ago

Yes they are having their Waco moment and it will take decades if not entire lives for people to trust about 5 of the three letter organizations ever again because of racist policy, even if they stopped TODAY.

Literally working against themselves from a security and stability standpoint if one actually cares about governance.

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u/TLunchFTW FF/EMT 1d ago

True.

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u/rilie 1d ago

Or here’s an idea, if you end up in court for something violent and are found to be here illegally, then by all means deport them. But if you’re a law abiding, tax paying person then why should you be scrutinized. I agree that the fire grounds aren’t the place, but should schools be the place? Church? A factory?

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u/TLunchFTW FF/EMT 1d ago

I think that’s a solid plan personally. Unfortunately, neither of us are in charge

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u/SemperSometimes11 1d ago

DHS is currently arguing in court that they have the right to detain based off of skin color.

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u/StrangeEditor3597 15h ago

They were supposed to be going after 'hardened criminals' but the reality is that most immigrants are law abiding hard workers. They have new quotas to meet and have no choice but to do ridiculous shit like this.

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u/Fun-Worth-2357 1d ago

you don’t understand wildland fire. Private contractors ultimately receive their funding from the tax payer. Theyre not “frontline” at all and actually do very little to justify their pay. Its a VERY scammy industry. They arent firefighters like you think. The amount of time they “fight fire” versus sit in their trucks sucking up a paycheck is bogus.