Dear friends and neighbors,

I truly appreciate hearing from you through my office, having meaningful conversations over Zoom, sharing a few words when we coincide at meetings and events, or even chatting briefly at the grocery store. Learning about your concerns helps me represent you better.

Over the past few months, what I have heard from many in our district is that there is growing fear due to the recent escalation of ICE activity. I am worried too, and I share your concerns about our immigrant communities under attack. All over the news and social media we are witnessing how ICE agents across our nation have been traumatizing entire neighborhoods by showing up in masks to abduct individuals, pulling them from their cars, their workplaces, 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.

Here are some resources you could use:

• Washington Immigrant Solidarity Network: 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 WAISN. This hotline was created by community organizations in early 2017 and has been supported by state funding since 2020. You can also go here for useful information including Know Your Rights flyers, brochures, and fact sheets.

• 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. The Northwest Immigrant Rights Project 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.

• Information on the City of Seattle Office of Immigrant and Refugee Affairs Resources Page is not only for Seattle residents.

• Washington state’s Department of Social and Health Services’ (DSHS) Office of Refugee and Immigrant Assistance provides information on a broad array of programs and services to help refugees and immigrants achieve economic self-sufficiency and cultural integration into Washington ‘s communities.

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.

JUST THE FACTS

Setting the Record Straight: Three Myths About Undocumented Immigrants

In Washington state, we pride ourselves on dealing in facts, not fear. Yet myths about undocumented immigrants keep resurfacing and distracting us from practical solutions that keep families safe and our economy strong. Let’s clear up three of the biggest ones.

Myth 1: “They don’t pay taxes and are a drain on the system.”

Fact: Undocumented immigrants pay a lot in taxes—federal, state, and local.

• Nationwide in 2022, undocumented immigrants paid $96.7 billion in federal, state, and local taxes, including $25.7 billion into Social Security, $6.4 billion into Medicare, and $1.8 billion in unemployment insurance taxes—programs they largely cannot use.
• Here in Washington, immigrants paid nearly $23 billion in taxes in 2023; undocumented immigrants contributed about $3 billion of that total.
• Almost 39% of undocumented immigrants’ total tax payments go to state and local governments—$37.3 billion nationally in 2022.

If you pay at the register, at the pump, or on your property—directly or through rent—you’re paying taxes. Undocumented immigrants do as well.

Myth 2: “We don’t need their labor.”

Fact: Our economy—Washington’s and the nation’s—relies on this workforce, especially in industries facing chronic shortages.

When we undercut workers who are already here and contributing, employers can’t fill shifts. That means delays, higher costs, and less growth—exactly what families and small businesses don’t need.

Myth 3: “Undocumented immigrants receive lots of benefits and government services.”

Fact: Federal law bars undocumented immigrants from most public benefit programs:

• SNAP (food stamps), TANF (cash assistance), SSI (disability income): Federal rules restrict these programs to citizens and specific “qualified” non-citizens; undocumented immigrants are not eligible.
• Medicaid, CHIP, Medicare, ACA subsidies: Undocumented immigrants are not eligible for federally funded health coverage (except limited Emergency Medicaid for life-threatening emergencies). Recent federal changes tightened eligibility for many lawfully present immigrants—but undocumented individuals were already excluded.
• Federal student aid (FAFSA, Pell Grants, federal loans/work-study): Undocumented immigrants are not eligible. However, they may be eligible for other types of student financial aid (state aid, college or career/trade school financial aid, or private scholarships).
• Federal housing assistance (e.g., Section 8 vouchers, most HUD programs): Requires eligible immigration status; undocumented immigrants are not eligible.
• Unemployment insurance: Eligibility requires valid work authorization during the base period, at filing, and while receiving benefits—so undocumented workers are not eligible.
• Social Security: These benefits are limited to U.S. citizens and specific groups of legal immigrants. While undocumented immigrants paid $26 billion into the Social Security Trust Fund in 2023, most of them will never collect these benefits.

What is available in Washington:

• State-run health options: Washington secured a Section 1332 waiver so all residents, regardless of immigration status, can buy health and dental coverage on Washington Healthplanfinder; state-funded Cascade Care Savings can lower premiums for eligible enrollees. Separately, the Apple Health Expansion provides Medicaid-like coverage for low-income adults without eligible status. As a result of these pragmatic pathways developed by Washington state, preventive care and coverage keep ER costs from skyrocketing.
• This past session, the Legislature passed SB 5234, which updates the Housing and Essential Needs (HEN) program to allow low-income elderly, disabled adults, and undocumented Washingtonians to access more flexible housing assistance. These changes aim to reduce bureaucratic barriers, provide longer-term housing stability, and ensure more efficient use of existing resources to prevent homelessness.
• While undocumented students are not eligible for federal financial aid, in Washington they can apply for state financial aid by completing the Washington Application for State Financial Aid (WASFA), which allows them to be considered for state programs like the Washington College Grant. To be eligible, students must meet residency requirements, have a high school diploma or equivalent, and sign an affidavit promising to apply for U.S. permanent residency when eligible.

BOTTOM LINE

With these myths debunked, let’s stop the spread of misinformation and stick to the facts: Undocumented immigrants pay billions in taxes, hold up key industries, and remain largely ineligible for federal benefits.

Instead of undervaluing them, Washington acknowledges the contributions of all immigrants, including those who lack documentation. That’s one of the reasons I sponsored, and the Legislature passed, the Keep Washington Working Act, with the goal of ensuring that all residents within our beautiful state can live and work with dignity while helping our economy thrive.

KEEP IN TOUCH!

As always, thank you for taking the time to read my newsletter. If you have any feedback or questions, please contact my office. Your voice and continued engagement are vital. We are in this together and I am committed to keep fighting for you and building a future that reflects our shared values.

Sincerely,