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Immigrant‑rights and labor advocates urge Seattle to expand legal defense, coordination and language access
Summary
Immigrant and labor organizations told a City Council select committee that federal enforcement increases and policy changes are already producing fear, detentions and service interruptions. They asked the city to invest in legal defense, rapid response, language access and coordinated county/state partnerships to protect residents and workers.
Advocates and city officials told the Seattle City Council select committee on March 6 that federal immigration enforcement and a set of new policies are producing fear, reported detentions, and interruptions to services that protect immigrants and workers.
Hamdi Mohammed, director of the Office of Immigrant and Refugee Affairs (OIRA), said the mayor’s office has issued directives and expanded training and rapid‑response planning for city departments and contractors. “We are in unusual and challenging times,” Mohammed said, and described department training, translation tools and convenings with funders to avoid duplication as immediate priorities.
Anessa Reyes of the Washington Immigrant Solidarity Network (WISEN) reported increased calls to a deportation‑defense hotline since Jan. 20 and detailed community reports of…
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