Friends and neighbors,
I came to this country as a refugee. I know what fear feels like. What we are witnessing today is not public safety. It is retribution.
These raids, these detentions—they do not make us safer. They tear apart families. They humiliate our neighbors. They silence workers who grow our food, heal our sick, and build our communities.
When the government knocks at your door—not to protect you, but to make you disappear—what does that say about who we’ve become?
We are not criminals. We are not threats. We are human beings, worthy of dignity and belonging.
To Lewelyn Dixon, to Alfredo Juarez, to every mother, father, and child caught in this system: I see you. I believe in your humanity. And I will not let your stories disappear behind cold bars and locked doors.
In 2019, Washington made a promise when we passed the Keep Washington Working Act—a promise to shield our communities from hate. A promise to put human dignity before federal cruelty. But promises must be kept with courage.
That’s why we must do more. This year, we’re working to increase transparency and accountability in private detention centers through HB 1232. We’re protecting immigrant workers from threats and exploitation with SB 5104. And with HB 1141, we’re extending collective bargaining rights to agricultural cannabis workers—many of whom come from communities long targeted and marginalized—to ensure their voices are heard and their labor respected.
In 2024, we made targeted investments of $28.4 million for essential healthcare services for undocumented individuals, reaffirming the dignity of every community member. This year’s operating budget continues to make a clear statement of our values to protect immigrant communities by funding the Legal Aid for Low-Income Immigrants Program—because legal help should not depend on your wallet or your status. Our proposal also invests $25 million in the Washington Migrant and Asylum-Seeker Support (WA MASS) program—because no one seeking refuge should be left without care or counsel.
This moment demands more than outrage. It demands action rooted in love and justice.
I am not here because this country welcomed me with open arms. I am here because people fought for me to stay.
Now, I fight for them. For all of us.
For resources on immigrant protections, including the Keep Washington Working Act, school-based rights, and legal aid, click here. The Washington Commission on Hispanic Affairs has also compiled resources to support and empower immigrant and refugee communities, including hotlines, resource finders, and legal education.
In solidarity,
