Here in the United States under the Trump administration, immigrants and activists alike are facing increasing state repression at the hands of ICE.
In our own Washington state, farmworker activist Alfredo “Lelo” Juarez was arrested by ICE on Tuesday, March 25, holding him at the NW Detention Center in Tacoma. In the words of Indivisible: “Lelo is a community organizer, Indivisible group member, and fierce advocate for farmworker and immigrant justice — and most of all, a human being who deserves respect and justice.”
For updates on Lelo and action items to help, follow the Community to Community Development facebook group.
As everywhere, DO NOT TALK TO THE COPS. If ICE or another law enforcement agency shows up at your door, DO NOT OPEN THE DOOR. If arrested, say you want to speak to a lawyer.
Save the contact info for your local NWIRP office and the WAISN hotline: 844-724-3737. NWIRP is Northwest Immigrant Rights Project & WAISN is Washington Immigrant Solidarity Network. There are other more local organizations but these both operate throughout so-called Washington. In WA we also have Keep Washington Working & Courts Open to All, which protect immigrant communities.
Under Courts Open to All, judges, court staff, etc. can’t provide info to immigration officials. Immigration officials can’t arrest on the way to or at courthouse without a COURT ORDER. Here, it’s important to know the difference between an “administrative warrant” and a “judicial warrant”. You should know that an administrative warrant, which is almost always what ICE has, DOES NOT give them the right to enter your home without permission. Here is a good resource on this. Also what’s been REALLY working for people lately is NOT OPENING THE DOOR – have them slide warrant under door or show through window.
Everyone can benefit from watching NWIRP’s November 2024 webinar. You can find many more Know Your Rights resources relevant to immigrants, defenders & allies here.
(This is as good a time as any to note that we’re using allies intentionally despite the meaningful critiques of allyship because of the implications of “accomplice”/“co-conspirator” in this context of criminalization of immigrants.)
Community can help by donating time, money, and resources to immigrant defenders. WAISN runs volunteer trainings. The more of us are informed, the better. We can fight together for immigrant justice!
Here is some important contact information:
WAISN: 844.724.3737
NWIRP Seattle: 206.587.4009
Tacoma: 253.235.9279
Wenatchee: 509.570.0054
Granger: 509.854.2100
Detained: 877.814.6444
