One of the strongest laws protecting immigrant communities in the U.S., Washington’s Keep Washington Working Act, came under attack a couple of weeks ago when the U.S. Attorney General sent a letter to Washington State leaders asserting, without any analysis or supporting data, that the state is operating in violation of federal law, citing unidentified “sanctuary policies and practices.” We are thankful to our state leadership for taking action, inviting NWIRP and other allies to stand together with them in a joint press conference, making clear that Washington State will not be bullied and that we remain committed to protecting immigrants in our communities.
The Keep Washington Working Act does not violate federal law. It makes clear that state and local authorities will focus on fulfilling their responsibilities and serving their communities instead of using limited resources to meddle in federal immigration matters. In fact, NWIRP has successfully sued several counties and municipalities when they have involved themselves in immigration enforcement, as they repeatedly violated community members’ constitutional rights. Similarly, NWIRP is currently representing a client in a lawsuit against Adams County, where the Sheriff has tried to promote himself by detaining our client (and other community members) on behalf of ICE, violating our client’s constitutional rights as well as Washington law.
At the press conference, I shared that when our loved ones, neighbors, and fellow Washingtonians are under attack as the federal government pursues their goal of mass detention and mass deportation, it is vital that we work in partnership to improve protections in order to get ahead of further attacks and further harm. Defending the Keep Washington Working Act is especially important given a recent University of Washington Center for Human Rights report from this month detailing the enforced disappearances and refoulement suffered by community members in deportation proceedings. It is also true that when data obtained from Washington’s Department of Licensing leads to the detention of even one of our community members, our state leaders must take action in protecting our data, conducting a comprehensive audit and monitoring of data sharing, and ending contracts with federal agencies that use data for the sole purpose of civil immigration enforcement. Targeting immigrant communities and sharing their data with the federal government impacts us all, and we must work together to stop it.
We are grateful for your partnership and support in this ongoing work. Please continue reading below for upcoming events and other ways to stay engaged with our crucial work of defending and advancing immigrant rights.
Community Members Show Up in Support of Immigrants Being Held without Access to Bond
On August 22, members of our community showed up at the Federal Courthouse in Tacoma to let the federal administration know they must stop denying bond to long-time residents simply because they entered the U.S. without inspection. Members of our impact litigation team were present at the courthouse that day to present arguments in our ongoing case, Rodriguez Vazquez v. Bostock, to ensure that community members detained in ICE custody are granted the ability to seek bond in order to be reunited with their loved ones while their case remains ongoing. You can watch recorded footage from the hearing at this link.
Over the past week, news reports have highlighted the federal administration’s intent to ramp up enforcement impacting welcoming cities, like Seattle, in the days to come. NWIRP was founded by a group of people determined to fight for justice and to provide legal protection to people who cannot pay for a lawyer. Since our founding over 40 years ago, we are proud to have a large community of support, which has enabled us to defend thousands of immigrants, their families, and their loved ones—both in the state of Washington and nationwide. Whether increased enforcement happens today or tomorrow, one thing is clear: we have each other to continue standing for what is right in defense of immigrant communities.
Wenatchee Solidarity Social, Wednesday, September 17
Our Wenatchee Solidarity Social is just a few weeks away on Wednesday, September 17 at Icicle Ridge Winery in Peshastin. Our critical work of defending immigrant rights would not be possible without community support, and we invite you to gather with us over food and wine, and further support our mission.
Evening of Justice at Wing Luke, Thursday, October 16
Our Evening of Justice at Wing Luke is back on Thursday, October 16. I hope you can join us for this special event to honor the invaluable contributions of our legal community, pro-bono attorneys, and dedicated volunteers who support our mission. This event is an opportunity for us to celebrate the impact of your tireless efforts, share inspiring stories, and connect with fellow supporters who are committed to the immigrant rights movement.
NWIRP Immigration Updates Webinar on September 23rd
In Spanish: Noon – 12:45pm
In English: 12:45pm – 1:30pm
Audience: Immigrants, their loved ones, and other community members.
Our team will provide updates on immigration policies and laws. The webinar will be in Spanish from noon – 12:45pm and in English from 12:45pm – 1:30pm.
Click here to register for the webinar
We have several previous training videos and webinars available on our Vimeo page: Click here to access these recordings
Thank you so much for your shared commitment to justice. We are grateful for all of the ways in which you support our work and communities.
With gratitude,
Malou Chávez (she/her/ella)
Executive Director
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