Para ver esta página en español, haga clic aquí.

What's happening:* 

Latino Community Fund and other organizations around the country are working together for more equitable change and to fight proposed changes to the public charge rule. The administration has proposed a new regulation that would block immigrant families from having a permanent, secure future in the United States. Under the new rule, immigrants who legally access health care, safe housing, and healthy food programs could be denied admission to the country or refused a green card. The proposed rule also makes clear that earning low wages, having children, or dealing with a medical condition could be held against immigrants seeking a permanent future in the United States.

It’s not final yet—but the clock is ticking. We need to move swiftly. Take a few minutes now to post a public comment decrying this inhumane attack on the health and wellbeing of countless families, communities, and children. Oppose Proposed 'Public Charge' Rule by December 10 Click here.

Or, download, print and circulate paper comment forms (available in English and Spanish).

Know the Facts:
Read more about the public charge rule or listen to this July 29 interview (Español) on Entre Hermanos' Mucho Gusto Radio. 

¡Resista! 
Latino Community Fund y otros grupos en todo el país están trabajando juntos para luchar contra este cambio en la regla de carga pública. El público tiene hasta el 10 de diciembre de 2018 para presentar comentarios sobre este reglamento. Nuestra oposición tiene que ser fuerte porque hay mucho en juego. Click aquí para información en Español

Washington

• 206 asylum seekers were transferred to the Federal Detention Center (FDC) in Seatac, Washington 
  
  • 45 asylum seekers are parents who have been separated from their children. 
• On June 20th, Immigration and Customs Enforcement reported that 36 asylum seekers had been transferred to Northwest Detention Center in Tacoma, Washington. 
• As of July 24th, 12 parents have been reunited with their children. 
  • Since July 14th, 24 of these parents have been released on bond

Nationwide

• Between October 2017 and April 2018, 700 children had been  separated from parents
• Around 2,300 of those children had been separated from their parents and were held by the government in shelters around the country.
• As of August 1st, up to 463 children have been deemed "ineligible" for returning to their families because their family has already been deported
• The court deadline to return all separated children into their families  was July 26th

*Please note that as this is a changing situation, and many times data is not available, these numbers may not be accurate.

Sources: NWIRP, Washington Post, ABC, NBC, Vox

How to help:

Contact your representatives:

https://www.usa.gov/elected-officials/

Places to Donate and Volunteer: 

• ProBAR and IJP 
• RAÍCES #FreeOurFamilies Family Reunification Bond Fund - Pro Bono legal volunteers needed (Sign up)
• National Immigrant Justice Center
• Texas Civil Rights Project - Bilingual volunteers with legal experience needed (Sign up)
• RMIAN
• LUPE
• Fuerza del Valle
• CARA - Volunteer social workers, lawyers, and interpreters needed (Sign Up)
• Human Rights First - Immigration Attorney's needed (Sign Up)
• ActBlue This page is the shared donation page for 14 different organizations

Local Resources:

• Washington Immigration Solidarity Network
• Colectiva Legal del Pueblo
• NWIRP
  • List of private immigration attorneys in Washington: https://www.nwirp.org/AttorneyList.pdf
  • Contribute directly to asylum seekers: https://actionnetwork.org/fundraising/fund-to-free-immigrant-families
• Puentes
• Immigration Raid Hotline: 1-844-RAID-REP (1-844-724-3737) 
  
  • Only to report active immigration raids and ICE activity
• Text Message Alert System: Text JOIN to 253-201-2833
  
  • Sign up to receive alerts about ICE activity in English, Spanish, Traditional Chinese, Vietnamese or Korean

Actions you can take:

SIGN UP to ATTEND the Border Solidarity-Migrant Exodus-Report Back and Strategy on Tuesday, December 4, 2018, from 5:30-7:30pm. Hosted by IMA USA International Migrants Alliance-USA Chapter, and WA Immigrant Solidarity Network

CONTACT state elected officials to support the Keep Washington Working Act in the 2019 legislative session.

GET INFORMED about the following federal bills:

• Access to Counsel Act (H.R. 1006 - Jayapal; S. 349 - Harris) would ensure that access to legal counsel is granted to everyone apprehended at the border by ICE/CBP.
• Dignity for Detained Immigrants Act (H.R. 3923 - Jayapal & Smith) would authorize an overhaul of the detention centers and the system governing these centers. Sen. Booker (NJ) is sponsoring the Senate companion bill. All six Democrats in our House delegation have signed onto this bill, so we need our advocates in Congresssional Districts 3, 4, 5, and 8 to urge their House member to sign on to this. 
• Detention Oversight Not Expansion (DONE) Act (H.R. 5820 - Jayapal; S. 2849 - Harris) would increase oversight of ICE detention centers and halt funds for construction or expansion of new facilities.
• Act to Save & Protect Immigrants Requesting Equity (ASPIRE) Temporary Protective Status (TPS) (H.R. 4384) would provide legal protections for those who have been given their status.

SUPPORT the Coalition! Make a commitment to help fulfill at least three needs listed above. Please like/follow their social media pages to get up to date information and upcoming events.