Dear friends and neighbors,
This is a long newsletter, but it contains some important information regarding ICE activity, what you can do, federal cuts to services, and updates on my new role as the Coordinator for the House Democratic Caucus Federal Focus Workgroup.
First, here’s a quick reminder that I have one last coffee chat scheduled and I hope you can join me THIS SATURDAY, October 11, at 1pm in Everett. Thank you to everyone that has joined the coffee chats with me this summer! It has been a great opportunity to learn from you all on your priorities and answer questions face to face. I’ve enjoyed them so much this year that I hope to continue them next interim as well!
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ICE RIGHTS VIOLATIONS & WHAT YOU CAN DO
Some of the biggest concerns and fears I’ve been hearing from our community are the recent escalation of ICE activity, as well as reports of masked kidnappings and rights violations. I share your concerns about our immigrant neighbors under attack. As you have likely seen in news and social media reports, ICE has been traumatizing entire communities by showing up in masks to abduct individuals, pulling them from their cars, their workplaces, from the line to pick up their children at school, and separating them from their families.
Just imagine that scenario for a minute: your spouse, parent or child is forcibly taken by masked individuals in an unidentified vehicle, and you are left with no information on their whereabouts, fearing that you may never see your loved one again. They have also been detaining citizens and people with legal rights to live and work here because of racial profiling.
This is NOT okay. Here’s what you can do:
If you, a loved one, or anyone you witness is confronted by, or sees suspected ICE activity, you can call the statewide rapid-response number 1-844-724-3737, operated by the Washington Immigrant Solidarity Network — WAISN. This hotline was created by community organizations in early 2017 and has been supported by state funding since 2020. You can also share this link (waisn.org/public-resources/) for useful information including know your rights flyers, brochures, and fact sheets, prepared by WAISIN.
Here are some additional resources as well:
- Northwest Immigrant Rights Project: NWIRP’s “Know Your Rights” page compiles several resources to help people understand their rights when interacting with various law enforcement officials and officers. This page also contains a guide for detained immigrants, links to the Immigrant Family Safety Plan, and links to resources for obtaining legal help.
- Northwest Immigrant Rights Project Western Washington Office The Western Washington Office serves individuals in Clallam, Clark, Cowlitz, Grays Harbor, Island, Jefferson, King, Kitsap, Lewis, Pacific, Pierce, San Juan, Skagit, Skamania, Snohomish, Thurston, Wahkiakum, and Whatcom counties.
- Northwest Justice Project: The NJP provides legal assistance to eligible low-income families and individuals needing help with civil (non-criminal) legal problems in Washington state.
- Refugee and Immigrant Services Northwest: This is a multi-ethnic, multi-cultural organization with a mission of empowering refugees and immigrants and their families to become self-sufficient and healthy, contributing members of society.
- WA Information Network 211: This is an easy-to-remember phone number for people to call for health and human services information, also for referrals and other assistance.
- Snohomish County Immigrant and Refugee Services: A list of websites that may be helpful to immigrants and refugees in Snohomish County. Some resources are available outside of Snohomish County.
- City of Seattle Office of Immigrant and Refugee Affairs – Resources Page, not only for Seattle residents.
- Washington state’s Department of Social and Health Services’ (DSHS) Office of Refugee and Immigrant Assistance provides a broad array of programs and services to help refugees and immigrants achieve economic self-sufficiency and cultural integration into Washington ‘s communities.
Familiarize yourself with the resources, specially the Know Your Rights materials, and then share them widely.
In June, the House Democratic Caucus released solidarity statements from the Legislative Black Caucus, the Latino Democratic Caucus, and the LGBTQ+ Caucus in response to the federal escalation of immigration enforcement. Click here to read all three (available in English and Spanish).
Regardless of ethnicity, color or immigration status, these actions by ICE agents are anti-democratic and trample over our heartfelt values and guiding principles as a state and a nation.
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THE BIG BETRAYAL BILL & OUR FEDERAL RESPONSE
In addition to the various harmful Executive Orders, mass layoffs of federal workers, and efforts to cut essential funding to our state, back in July, Congress passed the Republican Budget Spending Bill. There is a lot of misinformation out there and it’s difficult to sift through, so I’m going to be frank: This bill is extremely upsetting and offensive, and it is going to harm the majority of Washingtonians in some way. Its full impact on Washington state is still being evaluated and I’m assisting with that as the Coordinator for the HDC Federal Focus Workgroup, but here are a couple of examples of who it hurts:
Who it hurts – a couple of examples:
SNAP / Food Assistance Cuts
- The bill cuts billions in federal nutrition funding through reforms to SNAP, increased work requirements, and shifting costs onto the states. For Washington, around 1 million people currently receive food assistance each month under SNAP. Every one of those households is set to see reduced benefits. Benefits would be taken from more than 130,000 Washingtonians, particularly those who don’t or can’t meet new work or reporting requirements.
Medicaid / Health Coverage Losses
- The bill imposes new work requirements, shorter certification periods, cost-sharing, and other changes to reduce –by millions nationwide—the number of people covered by Medicaid. In Washington, many low- and moderate-income families, children, people with disabilities, and elderly individuals rely on Medicaid.
Keep in mind that cutting Medicaid and healthcare subsidies will have a ripple effect that will increase everyone’s healthcare costs, overwhelm our emergency departments and community health centers, and cause rural medical facilities to close down due to costs.
Benefits like SNAP and Medicaid are lifelines for those with limited incomes, but when those programs are reduced, the burden shifts heavily onto families already under stress.
This bill takes hundreds of billions of dollars from health care, food assistance, clean energy, housing, education, jobs and more, and gives it to the wealthiest people and corporations in America through tax cuts.
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Impacts across Washington:
- Urban / Suburban Areas: Because of higher absolute numbers of SNAP recipients and lower distances to work opportunities, but also large populations of families that stretch budgets. Cuts here will be felt through increased food insecurity and pressure on community resources (food banks, nonprofits).
- Rural and Low-Income Areas: Regions with fewer job opportunities, less infrastructure to support compliance with reporting/work requirements, poorer broadband or transit access so work opportunities are harder to access.
- Healthcare Access in Vulnerable Populations: Those relying on Medicaid in rural communities, or people with disabilities, or elderly—places where provider networks are thin—will suffer as coverage drops or cost sharing increases.
- For more information, visit the Office of Financial Management website at: ofm.wa.gov/budget/budget-related-information/hr-1-impacts-washington-state-people-and-budget
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BUILDING A RESPONSE TASK FORCE
I realize the outlook is daunting, and while these changes won’t happen all at once, we want to be prepared. I am leading a team within our caucus to track our federal response efforts, increase awareness of the issues, and aid in disseminating information.
My goal is to have a more coordinated and identifiable response to mitigate the harm the federal government is inflicting on our residents and our economy. We need proactive policy and budget responses, and to provide digestible information to legislators, state agencies, local governments, and the public on what is happening and what we are doing. To that effect, I want to share that we are actively working to fight and stand up against this cruel agenda that threatens our state. We are going to do all that is within our power to defend Washington, our values, and our future. We have been collaborating and working through the various tools available to us:
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SHARE YOUR STORY!
These changes are going to impact every person in Washington state. If your family, your job, your neighbor, your local non-profit or some other element of your life is experiencing harm due to passage of the Republican Budget Spending Bill, I want to hear your story!
You can also amplify your voice by reaching out to our congressional delegation as well: Senators Patty Murray and Maria Cantwell, and Representatives Suzan DelBene and Rick Larsen.
Your voice and continued engagement are vital. We are in this fight together and I am committed to keep fighting for you and building a future that reflects our shared values.
In solidarity,
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