Ninth Circuit Rules on King County Deportation Order

The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals has ruled that the federal government can deport illegal immigrants despite local objections, specifically citing a 2019 executive order from King County Executive Dow Constantine that sought to block U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) from using the county airport for deportations. The court unanimously upheld the district court's decision that the order violated the Supremacy Clause and a World War II-era agreement allowing federal use of the airport. The ruling emphasizes that local authorities cannot obstruct federal immigration enforcement, which has political implications as the Trump administration prepares to take office. The decision highlights the ongoing tensions between federal and state/local immigration policies. Proponents of the ruling argue it supports federal authority, while opponents criticize it as undermining local governance.