Washington State Leads US in Detaining Ukrainians

Seattle accounts for most detentions of Ukrainian immigrants in recent years.

Mar. 28, 2026 at 10:50pm

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According to government data, Washington State has become the leading state in the U.S. for detaining immigrants from Ukraine by immigration authorities. From October 2020 to December 2024, Seattle accounted for 114 detentions of Ukrainians, with a sharp increase in 2022 to 188 detentions, 19 of which were on criminal charges.

Why it matters

The high number of Ukrainian detentions in Washington State reflects the broader national trend of increased immigration enforcement targeting this population, raising concerns about the treatment of vulnerable refugee and immigrant communities.

The details

The data shows a significant rise in detentions of Ukrainians in Washington, with 20 detentions in 2021, 188 in 2022, and 77 in 2023. During this period, 166 Ukrainian immigrants were also deported from the U.S., with Washington leading all states with 32 deportations.

  • From October 2020 to December 2024, Seattle accounted for 114 detentions of Ukrainians.
  • In fiscal year 2022, 188 Ukrainians were detained in Washington, 19 on criminal charges.
  • In 2021, only 20 Ukrainians were detained in Washington.
  • In 2023, 77 Ukrainians were detained in Washington.

The players

Washington State

The state that has become a leader in the U.S. for detaining immigrants from Ukraine by immigration authorities.

Seattle

The city in Washington State that accounted for the most detentions of Ukrainians, with 114 cases from October 2020 to December 2024.

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The takeaway

The disproportionately high number of Ukrainian detentions in Washington State highlights the need for closer scrutiny of immigration enforcement practices and their impact on vulnerable refugee and immigrant communities.