A whistleblower has alleged that more than 100 unqualified immigrants were illegally hired to serve as corrections officers in Washington state, raising concerns that an entire county jail system could be pushed to the brink of collapse if the claims prove true.
The allegations center on the King County Department of Adult and Juvenile Detention, which the whistleblower says violated state law by hiring individuals who were neither U.S. citizens, lawful permanent residents, nor participants in the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program. The claims were delivered in an August letter to the Washington State Criminal Justice Training Commission, which oversees training and certification for corrections officers statewide.
Alleged scandal could collapse jail system.
An anonymous whistleblower claimed that a Washington corrections department illegally hired unqualified immigrants as corrections officers.
According to Fox News Digital, the individual wrote to the Criminal Justice Training Commission… pic.twitter.com/7fp5v3C7MW— Mike Netter (@nettermike) October 14, 2025
According to the letter, the department knowingly employed individuals whose immigration or work status had expired or who held only temporary visas. The whistleblower said the practice “undermines the integrity” of Washington’s justice system and poses “serious legal and security risks” to the county’s jails.
“It is estimated that well over 100 corrections officers currently employed by King County may fall into this questionable status,” the whistleblower wrote, warning that some internal estimates place the number closer to 130.
If confirmed, the situation could trigger a massive wave of decertification. Under state law, the training commission can revoke certification for anyone who fails to meet eligibility requirements—a move that could immediately remove dozens of officers from active duty.
“The loss of this many staff would place the county’s jail system on the brink of collapse, with the very real possibility of forcing the closure of a jail due to unsafe staffing levels,” the whistleblower warned in the letter.
In a statement to multiple outlets, the Washington State Criminal Justice Training Commission acknowledged an ongoing investigation into King County’s hiring practices. The agency stated that it has already removed four recruits from the state corrections academy after confirming they did not meet the eligibility requirements.
“The commission will initiate decertification cases against any individual who is not qualified for certification under state law,” the agency said.
The commission emphasized that county employers bear full responsibility for verifying employment and legal eligibility before recruits are approved for training. The findings could have sweeping consequences for one of the most heavily staffed detention systems in the Pacific Northwest, already under scrutiny for overcrowding and understaffing.
Critics say the scandal underscores the broader consequences of relaxed hiring standards and politically driven sanctuary policies across Washington state. While state law clearly requires that peace and corrections officers be lawfully present in the United States, the whistleblower alleges those safeguards were ignored “for years,” potentially compromising both inmate and officer safety.
The investigation remains ongoing. If the claims are substantiated, officials say King County could face serious legal repercussions, including mass decertifications, internal audits, and possible federal review for compliance with immigration and employment laws.
