Washington officials and immigrant-rights groups denounce new travel ban; AG weighs legal challenge

State and local officials, immigrant‑rights advocates and impacted community members held a press conference at SeaTac Airport to condemn the administration's new travel ban and to discuss possible state responses, including a legal challenge.

Hamdi Mohammed, a Port of Seattle commissioner who also said he serves with the City of Seattle Office of Immigrant and Refugee Affairs, opened the event by describing airport workers from banned countries as “the heartbeat” of the region and saying the policy is "driven by fear instead of facts." He said the Port will collaborate with community organizations and legal advocates to protect affected travelers and workers.

Imran Siddiqui, executive director of Care Washington and a plaintiff in litigation against the 2017 ban, said the 2025 order reflects the same anti‑Muslim animus and xenophobia as earlier versions. "This ban will likely prevent people from being reunited with their families," he said, and described recent incidents he said were tied to heightened hostility, including alleged threats and acts of violence reported to organizers.

Roxanna Nourouzi, executive director of 1 America, outlined the scope of the order as described at the event, saying it "fully restricts entry" from 12 countries including Afghanistan, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen and that it applies to people outside the United States on June 9 who do not already hold valid visas, green cards or U.S. citizenship.

Ziauddin, an organizer with 1 America who said he worked as an interpreter for U.S. forces in Afghanistan, and other community speakers shared personal stories of families whose visa hopes were shattered. Abdullah Shakul, who identified himself as a Somali American driver and union member, described missed family events and added economic burdens for drivers.

Attorney General Nick Brown said the order "will not make anyone safer" and that the AG's office is "taking a careful look" at whether it has a legal basis to challenge the ban. Brown told the assembled crowd the order sweeps up medical patients, international students and families fleeing persecution and urged use of legal tools and collective action.

Gov. Bob Ferguson, who led his own state challenge to an earlier ban in 2017, said Washington would again stand up. He shared an anecdote about a handwritten letter in which a child wrote that, because advocates had opposed the earlier ban, she could live in the United States — a personal illustration he used to explain why the state would mobilize in response.

The officials did not announce a specific new lawsuit or a formal vote. Instead, they urged affected people and organizations to contact the governor's and attorney general's offices and signaled plans for outreach and rapid‑response support for impacted families while legal options are evaluated.

The press conference concluded with reporters given the opportunity to ask follow‑up questions and to request one‑on‑one interviews with speakers. No formal state action (for example, the filing of new litigation) was announced at the event.